A bill that would designate bison as the official mammal of the United States has passed the U.S. House.
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The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the country since 1782.
The National Bison Legacy Act was expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate this week, reported the Washington Post. The Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council that includes around 50 Native American tribes, the National Bison Association and Wildlife Conservation Society worked in a common cause to recognize the historical, cultural and economic significance of the bison. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Hoeven’s office said it expects the Senate to concur with the House version this week and send the legislation to the president to be signed into law.
In the past, an estimated 20 to 30 million bison once roamed across North America and played a pivotal role in shaping the ecology of the Great Plains. Excessive hunting led to the near extinction of the bison in 1890, but hard work from conservation groups has allowed the bison population in North America to recover to acceptable levels.
The designation does nothing to further protect the bison, but supporters say it will help people “rediscover” the bison as a key feature of the American landscape.
Thanks to conservation efforts, first spearheaded by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the Wildlife Conservation Society and what is now known as the Bronx Zoo, the iconic mammals have slowly bounced back.
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“The American bison is an enduring symbol of strength, native American culture and the boundless Western wildness”, Clay said. “This bill recognizes that”, Noem said in a news release.
