National Bison Day: Indiana’s ties to America’s largest mammal

BLUFFTON, Ind. (WANE) — From the official seal to the mascot of Indiana University, American bison have long had a tie to the Hoosier State and much of the country where they once roamed in the tens of millions.

With Saturday being National Bison Day, multiple spots in northeast Indiana are shining a light on the animal and its history and importance to Indiana.

According to the National Park Service, the country’s bison population peaked in the early 19th century and ranged from 30 million to 60 million.

In addition to being a staple of the Great Plains, bison used Indiana as a migratory route from Illinois to Kentucky. That path, now known as the Buffalo Trace, existed between Vincennes and New Albany in southern Indiana.

However, bison faced overhunting, and their national population dwindled into the hundreds. According to the DNR, it is believed that wild bison were gone from Indiana by the 1830s.

Conservation efforts have worked to slowly bring back the bison population since the early 20th century. According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, there are approximately 20,500 Plains bison in conservation herds and an additional 420,000 in commercial herds.

One spot that houses a herd of bison is Ouabache State Park, which is operated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Wells County. Tyrone Jessup, the assistant property manager at Ouabache, said the property currently houses seven bison and has a long history with the animal.

“Here at the park in 1936, we received three bison from Pokagon State Park. Since then, it has kind of grown,” Jessup said.

The park started as the Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve in the early 1930s and was once known as the “Greatest Wildlife Laboratory in the United States” for its raising of pheasant, quail, raccoon and rabbit, according to the DNR. While the property has not been raising game since the 1960s, the bison herd has carried on the tradition through a new purpose: to conserve and promote Indiana’s natural resources.

“It’s fun to see the kids get excited. Even people’s pets get excited,” Jessup said. “The joy that we get out of being here every day and being around such a magnificent animal — this isn’t a job. You can’t even say it’s more of a career. We do it because we love it.”

Modern Bison Examples

In addition to the animal’s historic ties to Indiana, the animal’s influence can still be seen across Indiana and the U.S. in a variety of ways.

Indiana’s state seal, which dates back to the state’s origins and was officially adopted in 1963, depicts a bison in the foreground jumping over a log.

From 1913-1938, the U.S. Mint produced the Buffalo Nickel, a popular collectible coin featuring a Native American on one side and a bison on the other, according to NGC, a popular coin-grading service.

In May 2016, President Barack Obama made the bison America’s official national mammal, officially putting it within the ranks of the bald eagle and the turkey as one of the country’s most iconic animals.

In August, Indiana University revived a throwback sports logo depicting a buffalo, and even Fort Wayne pays homage to the animal with a large mural at The Landing.

Although Jessup does not believe interest or awareness for bison has necessarily increased in recent years, he said the bison at Ouabache are still popular and one of the site’s top attractions.

“It’s always been unique here, and it’s always brought people through the gate,” Jessup said.

National Bison Day Activities in Northeast Indiana

Ouabache State Park will host a variety of activities throughout the weekend where people can interact with the bison and learn more about them

SATURDAY

• Bison Feeding: Learn about the national mammal and watch them eat – 10 a.m.
• Bison Babble: Meet at the Campview Shelter to learn about bison and National Bison Day while interacting with bison artifacts – 3 p.m.
• Bison Bingo: Meet at the Campview Shelter to play bingo and have the chance to win a prize – 5 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Bison Bonanza: Stop by the Park Office during operating hours to receive a bison-themed questionnaire for the chance to win a prize – 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LC Nature Park, a park in Roanoke that also houses roaming bison, will also host a National Bison Day event Saturday where reenactors from the Old Fort and local artists will highlight the animal’s history in America. The event, called “Bison Then and Now,” is free and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For people who may be learning about or seeing bison for the first time this weekend, Jessup hopes that they learn how important they are to America’s history and ecosystem and leave with a newfound appreciation for the species.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for them to be here and how important they are to the plains [and] our native grasses,” Jessup said.