Bison

Bison are large, grazing herd herbivores known for their fuzzy heads and strong shoulders. In modern times, they are the largest terrestrial animals in North America (the American Bison) and Europe (European Bison).
== American Bison ==
== Lore ==
The American bison is one of the most iconic animals of North America, representing the Great Plains and its majesty--it's also the largest bovid in the Americas, weighing over 1,600 lbs! Hunting and properly utilizing these animals is a fundamental part of Plains Natives economy, and has been for millennia. The idiom, to "use every part of the buffalo", comes from the native practice of using the bones, meat, sinews, horns and so on. 
=== Colonial Wastefulness and the Return from Near-Extinction ===
In the 1500s, there were 25-30 million buffalo in the region that would become the United States--they ranged from New Mexico to Kentucky, and as far north as Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The Plains Bison of America was hunted by the millions in the 1800s. Buffalo pelts were sold across the US, and bones were turned into char for sugar processing. By 1889, there were mere hundreds left, their ranges were a few small dots left on the map. A book at the time, "The Extermination of the American Bison" (1889) predicted the beasts would be extinct in a mere two decades.
Due to massive nationwide initiatives in protecting, relocating, and breeding, the species was protected and brought back from extinction, redistributing herds across North America. By 2010, bison had been restored to about 500,000. They are still "near threatened" in conservation status, their protection in national parks may ensure their survival as a species. 
=== Bison Bits ===
Besides their natural meats, fats and organs, bison can be made into arrows, awls, beads, hide scrapers, shoes, and clothing. While bison are certainly full of "Dead Monster Bits", it is important to remember that they were nearly driven to extinction due to overhunting.
==Variants==
*The European wood bison, also known as wisent or zubr, are virtually identical in size and stats.
*The gaur or Indian bison is even larger. Bulls (10′ long; 1 ton) have ST and HP 25, doing 2d+6 damage with horns or trample. Cows (9′ long; 1,500 lbs.) have the same profile as bison bulls.
== On Other Worlds ==
* Before their mass hunting (see above), American bison wandered the Great Plains in the millions, with an estimated 25 million total. Quite a majestic sight for outworld sightseers who are exploring pre-Colonial timelines.
*Yrth has major bison populations in Western Megalos, the plains of al-Haz and al-Wazif, and the Orclands. It is not specified what subspecies these are, or if they're even from Earth as we know it.
Category:Animals
Category:Has DMB