Tatanka gets his due.
The bald eagle may soon have a large, furry friend: The North American bison is on the verge of being named the first national mammal of the United States.
The House approved the National Bison Legacy Act on Tuesday, and it passed the Senate on Thursday. Now it’s awaiting President Obama’s signature to become law.
The measure says the bison is considered a “historical symbol of the United States” and it is “integrally linked with the economic and spiritual lives of many Indian tribes through trade and sacred ceremonies.”
john roberts says
It would pretty much have to be the bison or the grizzly bear. Not many mammals associated all over the world with North America. Maybe the armadillo.
JimC says
Texas owns the armadillo, thanks to Gary P. Nunn…
deuce says
Well, if Texans own the armadillo (they’re cordially welcome to it), then Kansans own the bison (since 1955):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kansas_state_symbols
It also features in the state song. I know of at least five small herds within 60mi of where I live.
The bison genus is far-flung, with species (including the yak!) spanning three continents:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison
The Eurasian bison (wisent) doesn’t get near enough love. Glad it made a comeback. I grew up about a mile from long-abandoned “bufflo waller” (wallow). Who knows how many thousands of the majestic beasts took a roll there over the millennia?
JimC says
“Buffler Waller Blues.” Needs to be written, Deuce.
deuce says
The buffalo is the mascot of Cross Plains, TX high school, BTW. Howard didn’t attend (there was no high school), but kinda cool anyway.
lane batot says
When I lived(briefly) in Texas, there seemed to be an ongoing tally people kept as to how many armadillos they’d hit with their autos. It was such a joke, that some people went out of their way to TRY and run over them–some sort of Texan prestige in being able to recount a large number squashed. I, for one, would WRECK MY VEHICLE before I’d hit one, after I found out that armadillos were about the only critter that would eat another creature I first encountered down in Texas(although we have them in plenty in N. C. now, alas!)–FIRE ANTS! I once watched an armadillo digging into a mound–totally destroyed it, and they became a SACRED creature to be revered ever since!
JimC says
The Sacred Fire Ant Slayer. Sounds right to me…
Saddle Tramp says
Yes indeed Jim…
Jerry Jeff Walker’s VIVA TERLINGUA has been getting a lot of play by me in recent days. Gary P. Nunns LONDON HOMESICK BLUES is a fitting finish to an exceptional album. A favorite of mine, not to mention what would Austin City Limits be without it. You quote ’em good amigo!!
When this one comes round I hit the repeat button!!
A little off subject maybe but thought I would toss it in the musical pot.
Bought THE BALLAD OF RAMBLIN’ JACK DVD quite some time ago and finally got around to watching it. Since we are hitting on so much of the old but good ones of late he definitely leads the pack. Much insight to one of the absolutely true traveling troubadours and wandering minstrels if there ever was one. He ain’t gettin’ any younger either. He is a true connection to both Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan and on and on! He definitely travels and has traveled the territory you ride in Jim. A cowboy from New York like several others not born on a ranch but ended up on one and became one…
JimC says
I’ll have to track that down. The only time I saw him was at Elko a few years back. Set was at 2 p.m. and he was full sober and he was GREAT. They had a bit of a time wrangling him off the stage so the next performer could go on, but other than that he was warm, funny, played more than he talked (!) and it was a highlight of that trip.
Saddle Tramp says
Almost forgot to mention regarding the [ main ] subject of this here post on Bison or what most ( yes incorrectly call ) Buffalo. The Buffalo Head Nickel is a mighty symbol of the west and of America. James Earle Fraser was it’s designer. I stopped in Visalia on one of my trips to Yuba City to photograph his other famous work; that being THE END OF THE TRAIL sculpture. This is the bronze version that was given in a trade-off with The National Cowboy And Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for the original non-bronzed one that was beginning to
deteriorate in it’s outdoor location in Visalia. The first one to be bronzed (1929) is in Waupun, Wisconsin. I have seen it as well. It is a powerful piece of sculpture. No better man than James Earle Fraser to represent that other iconic symbol of America that being the Bison on the Buffalo Head Nickel. He also designed the Navy Cross as well as many other American icons. His wife was also an equally talented artist. And to think we almost lost ’em when once the land was blackened with them as far as you could see…
Oh yeah… The Grizzly definitely ranks up there as well but the Californios got that on their flag already. The last Grizzly…
JimC says
Tom Russell has The End of the Trail tattooed on his lower leg. He got lit up and was showing it in his DVD dock of the Canadian railroad trip.
Saddle Tramp says
Again you are one lucky [… ]
Well, you know.
Both seeing and hearing Jack at his favorite venue and his favorite town had to bring the entire experience to a new level. Frontier Partisan and editor at large saddling up horses worth the ride…
As many times as I went by Elko ( many many in my long line runnin’ days ) due to schedule demands, I only had the time to stop at the Elko Western Folklife Center to stock up on music at their store ( a Mecca for choices of western music you can put your hands on ) and never could make it to the big live event. Bought my first Dave Stamey there. A real cowboy and a real talent. Not as prolific as some maybe, but what he does have out always satisfies. Western Jubilee Recording Company’s catalog is another fine source to peruse and order from by phone or online.
Again, the temptations are too many!
Jim, do you recall the title of the TR doc on the Canadian railroad trip you speak of? Must have slipped by me ( or my mind has slipped ). Either one a real possibility…
Been spinning his new Anthology 2 non-stop the last two days. It’s put together nicely for a well rounded listen and the previously unreleased songs top it off. Oh yeah, the artwork on the disc and disc holder ( something you could never get on a download ) start the listening experience in fine TR fashion.
JimC says
Hearts on the Line.
https://vimeo.com/27402656
Saddle Tramp says
Gracias Jim!!
I’ll borrow this and pass it along.
Put me on the next thing smokin’ …
JimC says
Put me on the next train outa here!
John says
Now it is even more significant that there are efforts to maintain the few herds of genetically pure Bison. We don’t want a national mammal that is part cow, as about 95% of the Bison in the USA have interbred with cattle to some degree.
http://upr.org/post/genetically-pure-bison-found-utah
If you really want to geek out, note that the Plains Bison goes by the scientific name Bison bison bison. Bison cubed. Damn near interesting, huh?
John C.
JimC says
Maybe the guy who gave ’em their scientific name was having trouble falling asleep and instead of counting sheep….
“bison, bison, bison….”
john roberts says
The lowland gorilla’s scientific name is gorilla gorilla gorilla. The highland gorilla is gorilla gorilla berengi.
JimC says
I have friend whose scientific name is Glock Glock glock
lane batot says
About time! I cannot think of a more iconic, INFLUENTAIL mammal to represent the U. S. of A. Canada already took the beaver(a long time ago!), and though I think the Grizzly/Brown bear was another good choice, Russia already has the Brown Bear as their national animal symbol, so they’d just say we were copycatting them. Speaking of which, the Puma/Cougar/Mountain Lion/Panther/Painter/Catamount would be another great, all American(but including Central and South America, too!) choice of an iconic species. I’d prefer Gray Wolves to have been considered, but THAT woulda been far too controversial–too many wolf haters out there! Though not as impressive physically, the trickster Coyote would have also been, in my mind, an EXCELLENT All American representitive iconic species–no matter WHAT you throw at them, they just survive and keep on coming! But the Bison/Buffalo is fine with me. As I’ve got to help care for a small herd at the zoo I work in, for everyone’s information, I learned that in baby talk, one refers to them as “Buffadoze”………
john roberts says
It’s late, but how about the wolverine?