The Battle to Save the Buffalo and the Birth of the New

The American Bison

The American bison is a majestic animal that once roamed the Great Plains in vast numbers. By the late 19th century, however, the bison had been hunted to near extinction. In 1883, there were only an estimated 1,000 bison left in the United States.

The bison's decline was due to a number of factors, including the westward expansion of the United States, the growth of the commercial buffalo hunting industry, and the of new diseases. The bison were also killed for their meat, hides, and horns.

George Bird Grinnell

George Bird Grinnell was born in New York City in 1849. He grew up in Iowa and Nebraska, where he developed a love of the outdoors and the natural world. In 1870, Grinnell moved to New York City to study law. However, he soon realized that his true passion was writing.

In 1876, Grinnell joined the staff of the New York Sun. He quickly became one of the newspaper's most popular writers, thanks to his vivid descriptions of life on the Great Plains. In 1883, Grinnell published his first book, Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk Tales.

The Battle to Save the Buffalo

In 1886, Grinnell published his most famous book, The Battle to Save the Buffalo. The book tells the story of how a group of dedicated individuals, led by Grinnell, fought to save the American bison from extinction. The book was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to raise awareness of the plight of the bison.

In 1890, Grinnell founded the National Bison Society. The society's goal was to protect the remaining bison herds and to reintroduce bison to their former range. Today, there are an estimated 500,000 bison in the United States, thanks in large part to the work of Grinnell and the National Bison Society.

The Birth of the New

The Battle to Save the Buffalo is more than just a story about the conservation movement. It is also a story about the birth of a new way of thinking about the relationship between humans and the natural world. In the late 19th century, many people believed that the natural world was a limitless resource that could be exploited without consequence.

Grinnell's work helped to change this way of thinking. He argued that the natural world was a precious and fragile gift that needed to be protected. He also argued that humans had a responsibility to stewardship the natural world for future generations.

Grinnell's ideas were revolutionary at the time. However, they have since become the foundation of the modern conservation movement. Today, we recognize that the natural world is essential to our survival and that we have a responsibility to protect it.