American Bison: A Natural History

Organisms and Environments

by Dale F. Lott, Harry W. Greene

American Bison combines the latest scientific information and one man's personal experience in an homage to one of the most magnificent animals to have roamed America's vast, vanished grasslands. Dale F. Lott, a distinguished behavioral ecologist who was born on the National Bison Range and has studied the buffalo for many years, relates what is known about this iconic animal's life in the wild and its troubled history with humans. Written with unusual grace and verve, American Bison takes us on a journey into the bison's past and shares a compelling vision for its future, offering along the way a valuable introduction to North American prairie ecology.

We become Lott's companions in the field as he acquaints us with the social life and physiology of the bison, sharing stories about its impressive physical prowess and fascinating relationships. Describing the entire grassland community in which the bison live, he writes about the wolves, pronghorn, prairie dogs, grizzly bears, and other animals and plants, detailing the interdependent relationships among these inhabitants of a lost landscape. Lott also traces the long and dramatic relationship between the bison and Native Americans, and gives a surprising look at the history of the hide hunts that delivered the coup de grâce to the already dwindling bison population in a few short years.

This book gives us a peek at the rich and unique ways of life that evolved in the heart of America. Lott also dismantles many of the myths we have created about these ways of life, and about the bison in particular, to reveal the animal ruminating, reproducing, and rutting in its full glory. His portrait of the bison ultimately becomes a plea to conserve its wildness and an eloquent meditation on the importance of the wild in our lives.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Natural History, Science, Biology, Animals, Westerns

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently decided I need to start reading natural histories of the animals I'm interested in. I figured it would be kind of a chore, but important to my future. Dale Lott seems to be aware that natural history can be a bit boring, so he slips in weird factoids and silly observations to make sure you're awake. I laughed out loud at some parts. I also learned a lot, so yes, would recommend.

[Ike Rakiecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well researched and highly readable book about the American bison. It was apparent that the writer has expertise in the topic, while also having a deep respect for the animals. It carried a narrative tone throughout and it was a unique natural history in that regard. It read a lot like a documentary that had been converted to the written form.

[Lillia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

Well written and easy to read, I learned so much about these wild creatures. It made watching the herd at Rocky Hollow Buffalo Ranch in Kimball, Nebraska so much more enjoyable. I also enjoyed the chapters on other prairie inhabitants. I recommend this book for anyone interested in American West history or bison.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punchy, short chapters with often lovely descriptions. A couple of jokes about how evolution may have shaped human mating behavior fell very flat with me, but still a thoughtful and very informative read.

[Graeme Mccrady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book by a man who had a deep love and understanding of plains bison. One of the best books ever published on the topic. If you are interested in bison, this book should be considered essential reading.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a scientist and have no background in any of this, and was reading this for fun after several trips to South Dakota, and I thought it was just pretty cool to learn about bison. It was well written and not too dry, which is 5/5 in my book.

[Mikel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more focused on the animal and less on the humans that preyed on them. It was a great addition to my research.

[christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wavers a lot between moments of engagement and boredom

[P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book detailing the history, natural history, ecology, habitat, physiology of the American Bison (Bison Bison). He describes the proto-bison, the other competitors for that particular niche and how B.Bison succeeded in holding that niche until the advent of the horseback hunter.

It is refreshing that he discusses 'Buffalo jumps' in a realistic way. There are numerous jumps throughout the west and it is evocative to view them. The particular one he discusses is in Alberta and has a lovely little museum associated with. His characterization of jumps as being 'near the Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains" is generally correct. But jumps occur at places like Palo Duro Canyon, any place that features hopeful geology from an early Holocene hunter's point of view. But most famous Buffalo Jumps are near the Eastern Rocky Mountains.

A great book, especially his musings on the fate of B. Bison. The author's unstated belief that the species will be diluted and split leaving two branches, the wild and wooly wild ones and the demesticated or tamed varities.

[Keith Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I picked it up just to find out about the historical numbers of bison, which was discussed, but found the rest of the book so engaging that I read it straight through. The book goes on longer than you think it will (if you haven't looked carefully at the table of contents). Just when you thought he'd pretty much explained bison, he starts talking about other animals on the prairie, and then when he's finished with that, he keeps on going talking about human / buffalo relationships.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best animal / natural history books I've read, especially if you exclude narrative nonfiction. Lott's writing is beautiful, his ideas are nuanced, his stories are engaging. I found myself delightfully surprised on almost every page. The guy clearly loved bison and it's clear that he worked hard to craft a book that wasn't just gushy or merely informative.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildlife management uses biological expertise to implement the personal values of individual members of our society as they are expressed through the political system.

We have to learn to value them [wild animals] without believing that they value us.

In America today, all wild things and wilderness always hang by the slender thread of individuals giving a damn.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.