BISON

Meet a keynote grassland species: the mighty bison.

Though they once roamed North America in droves, bison were reduced to a few survivors by the early 20th century. Today, captive herds have been restored in various protected areas where they benefit both the land and its other inhabitants. Describing bison behavior and biology, this engaging entry in the Orca Wild series is impressive in its level of detail, logically organized, and filled with photographs, maps, and charts. Backhouse offers many examples of how these creatures play crucial roles in their ecosystem, from their grazing habits (which make room for other plants and animals to thrive) to their feces, which serves as a rich fertilizer. She explains how Native Americans used each part of the bison and discusses how they hunted them; later, white settlers slaughtered them, forcing Indigenous people onto reservations. Finally, she examines efforts to build up the animals’ numbers and distribute rescue herds; now, free-ranging bison can be seen in numerous sites in the U.S. and Canada, but don’t get too close! Throughout, the author includes her own encounters with wild bison and with those who study and care for them, among them high schoolers from the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in Saskatchewan and two youngsters with Blackfeet and Séliš ancestry who go on a buffalo hunt with their grandfather.

A promising ecological tale of near-eradication and recovery.