Happy Birthday, Dear Bison

Amber Taufen March 11, 2010 4:00AM

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "12017627",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "6"
          },
          {
            "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "12017623",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          },
          
          {
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
            ,{
              "name": "RevContent - In Article",
              "component": "13027957",
              "insertPoint": "3/5",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
            }
          
        ]

The bison is an American symbol; we use its image on flags, coins and logos, particularly here in the West, where certain institutions of higher learning even use the bison as a mascot. Bison were also a major source of meat for Native Americans and a menace for railroads, farmers and ranchers. In the nineteenth century, over-hunting by these groups and by Western settlers decimated the bison population.

Thankfully, conservation efforts have led to an increase in herds; today there are about 500,000 bison in captive commercial populations and approximately 30,000 bison in conservation herds. One of those is at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, where it has grown from sixteen animals in 2007 to more than forty.

To celebrate the anniversary of the herd’s creation — the animals were culled from the National Bison Range in Montana and unloaded in Colorado on March 17, 2007 — the refuge is hosting a Bison Anniversary Tour from 9 a.m. to noon today, St. Patrick’s Day. Cake will be served!

The refuge entrance is at 56th Avenue and Havana Street; for more information, go to www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal or call 303-289-0930.
Wed., March 17, 9 a.m.-noon, 2010

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.

Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

Contact: Amber Taufen

Follow:

Instagram: @polished_amber_taufen

Trending Arts & Culture

Latest Stories

Keep Scrolling or Click to Read:

Happy Birthday, Dear Bison

Trending Arts & Culture

[%title%]

Latest Stories

This Week's Issue