Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-03-23
MONTANA Is TOPS
IN BISON CENSUS
TREASURE STATE NOW HAS 1.O44
OF SHAGGY BEASTS WITHIN
IT'S BORDERS
South Dakota, Wyoming, Oklahoma
Follow in Order Named; Only About
5000 Head Exist in Entire United
States and Alaska, Says Report.

ooh, give me a home where the
buffalo roam" If the countless
crooners who sing the above line
from Home On the Range" real
Iy mean IL, MOntana's population
should consist of q large percen-
tage of baritones. For, according
to a recent buffalo census" by the
United States bureau of biological
survey, more buffalo roam the hills
Of Montana than Of any other
state or territory.
According to this census, Montana
leads with 1,O44; South Dakota is
second with 955; Wyoming. third with
922, and Oklahoma Is fourth with 639
There are today slightly more than
5000 buffalo in the United States and
Alaska, where probably more than co.
100000 roamed the ranges about 100
years ago. Affording an interesting
comparison of the early buffalo herds,
experts estimated that in 1885, there
were 68,525,00O cattle in the United
States.
Today, buffaloes are found on fed
eral, state, municipal and private hold
ings in SO states, the territory of
Alaska and the District of Columbia.
OF the 5,029 buffaloes recorded, 1929
are in the United States and 200 in
Alaska. The count did not include the
entire calf crop of the year and does
not account for an estimated 900 to
800 animals whose owners are not
known, Roahen said
The bureau of biological survey calls
attention to the fact that no detailed
count OF these big game animals had
been made since January, 1884, when
the American Bison society published
its 10th census of buffaloes.
The bureau credits the American
Bison society, which was organized in
December, 1905, by Is conServationists,
with much Of the original work which
was done for the preservation of the
species. The national buffalo range tn
Montana, a national wildlife refuge adj
ministered by the biological survey, was
established largely through the efforts
Of the society 1t Is said.
OF the total number Of buffaloes
In the United States, / 500 are males;
2, 452, females, and 1858 calves. or the
200 in Alaska, SIS are males; ITO, fe-
males, and 36 calves. The Alaska herd
ranges In the Delta river section and
is the increase of a nucleus of % ami
mails transferred TO the territory from
the national buffalo range in Montana
in 1923 by the bureau.
Buffaloes reported In the various
states are Arizona, SIS; California, 30;
Colorado, 143; District Of Columbia,
30; Florida, 3: Georgia, 4: Idaho, IS;
Illinois, 8; Indiana, IA; Iowa, 10; Kan
sas, 40.
Louisiana, l. Maryland, l; Massa-
chusetts, 16; Michigan, 80; Minnesota,
IL: Mississippi, g.; Missouri, %; Mon
tana, 1,044; Nebraska, 213; Nevada, 2;
New Hampshire, %; New Jersey, 5;
Ohio, %; Oklahoma, $50; Oregon,
IT; Pennsylvania, SO; Rhode Island, 4;
South Dakota, $685.; Tennessee, s;
Texas, 100; Utah, 2; Vermont, 3;
washington, Al; West Virginia, 5; wis
consin. "a, and Wyoming, 922.
1t was on Dec. 8, 1905, that 10 con-
assembled tn the Lion
house Of the New York Geological So
ciety 70 discuss ways to prevent the
The meeting resulted In the formation
OF the American Bison society, and
to its efforts more than to those Of
any other agency should credit be
given for the preservation Of the buff
falo. the. bureau OF biological survey
points out.
Largely because Of this society's ef-
forts, the national bison range was !
under the administration |
Of the biological survey, on Land for
merry q part Of the Ffathead Indian |
reservation In Montana
On Oct. IL, 1903, It was stocked with |
81 buffalo, all but one from private |
herd at Kalispel1. Since this time, sew
erai other buffalo refugees have been |
the 1,044 bgIffaloes on Montana |
refugees are divided into eight groups. |
Rising Sun ranches ct B0zeman have |
a8: Crow Agency reports 585 on the /
ranges OF the Grow Indian reservation;
me late Frank A. HazeIbaker at Dillon |
II; Ernest White at Kaiispen, |
3: G. E.. DuRand at Nartinsdale, Is: /
the national bison refuge at Moiese,
1858; Walter M Truax at Richland. AZ,
and the Ok Bow ranch at Wolf
Greek, 8.
Yellowstone national PARK in Wyo-
ming has $50 ha1ffaloes-the largest /
nun1beT fw any one place In the
Omitted States or Canada and the Grow
Ixadian agnncy. with SIS. n sscomd.