Celebrating National Bison Day
Since 2012, the United States Senate annually has designated the first Saturday in November as National Bison Day. This yearly resolution is required because Senate rules do not allow for resolutions to establish any standing "National Day" on a perpetual basis. This resolution has the full support of the National Bison Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the InterTribal Buffalo Council. These three organizations championed the enactment of legislation in 2016 designating bison as the National Mammal of the United States.
The President signed the National Bison Legacy Act on May 9, 2016, making the North American bison the official National Mammal of the United States. This is a great milestone for an animal that once faced extinction. The bison has played a central role in America's history and culture and helped shape the Great Plains and the lifestyle of Native Americans. Today, bison live in all 50 states and serve as a symbol of unity, resilience, and healthy lifestyles and communities.
Groups representing conservationists, ranchers and Native American tribes came together earlier this year to designate the first Thursday of each November as National Bison Day, celebrating the official National Mammal of the United States.
National Bison Day provides an opportunity for us to recognize the historic role of this magnificent animal, and to celebrate that ranchers, tribes and conservationists are working together to restore bison as a part of a sustainable landscape, and a sustainable food system in North America. We at Heritage Bison Ranches are honored to be part of the larger community bound by the heritage of the American bison.