All that remains for the bison to become the first national mammal of the United States is President Obama’s signature.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the National Bison Legacy Act. The U.S. Senate first approved its version of the legislation in December 2015. It agreed to the House-passed version, sending the bill to the president.
“I think it’s an awesome thing that the bison are now our national mammal, or will be, once the president signs it and everything’s done. They’re just so much a part of our history, such an iconic symbol of our West and our nation,” said Donald Beard, park superintendent of Caprock Canyons State Park, home of the Texas State Bison herd.
The designation of bison as the national mammal puts it on an equal level with the bald eagle.
“The bald eagle was designated as the national emblem of the U.S. back in 1782. It’s been a long time since anything has reached that stature,” said Beard, who also serves as vice president of the Texas Bison Association. “There are public herds of bison, conservation herds, and private production. There’s about half a million bison in existence, most of which are owned by private producers. About 20,000 bison are in public herds.”
The bison is our country’s largest land animal. It stands up to six feet tall at the shoulder and weighs up to one ton.
To listen to Beard’s interview with the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Radio Network, click here.