Ken Burns chronicles the sad fate of the American buffalo
Ken Burns’s new film about the American buffalo prompts a broader look at how bison were driven to near-extinction in the 19th century, intertwining westward expansion, deliberate U.S. policies toward Native Americans, market-driven hide hunting, and ecological mismanagement. Commenters debate the relative roles of intentional genocide, opportunistic overhunting, habitat disruption, and disease, while pointing to historical sources, novels, and research that illuminate these dynamics. The conversation also highlights modern conservation efforts—from nonprofit prairie restoration to city- and state-managed herds—that aim to restore bison and prairie ecosystems across North America.
Media and recommended resources
- Several commenters recommend supplementary materials: a YouTube ecology video covering bison, a narrative non‑fiction book about buffalo hunters, a hunting/history book on American buffalo, a podcast episode on the origins of conservation, and older travelogues about the 19th‑century West.
- The new documentary is compared favorably to other work on WWII and U.S. history.
- Some discuss how historical fiction can mislead audiences about real events, contrasting “beautiful” novels with accurate history.
Causes of the bison collapse
- One camp emphasizes market hunting: bison were hunted for hides and other products until the population crashed in about two years (early 1880s).
- Another camp stresses deliberate policy: killing bison is framed as a strategic tool to starve Indigenous nations, undermine resistance to westward expansion, and reduce attacks on settlers and railroad workers. A well-known government quote is cited as evidence.
- Others highlight ecological factors: habitat encroachment, fencing, disrupted migration, and a tick‑borne disease epidemic are argued to have played a decisive role.
- There is debate over terms like “overhunting,” “mismanagement,” and whether separating these is meaningful.
Genocide and Native American history
- Many comments tie buffalo extermination to broader genocide and land dispossession.
- Others stress that disease had already killed a large share of Indigenous people before systematic buffalo slaughter.
- Some debate whether focusing only on buffalo oversimplifies genocide; others see attempts to add nuance as deflection.
- Fringe claims about ancient “giants” and cover‑ups are mentioned but implicitly challenged as dubious.
Conservation and rewilding efforts
- Multiple modern projects are cited: a nonprofit buying prairie land, large private ranch herds, municipal herds (e.g., near Denver and in city parks), federal or tribal ranges, and the “Buffalo Commons” idea of a rewilded Great Plains.
- Locals note the plains are not truly “empty”: land is privately owned, used for cattle, and bison reintroduction competes with livelihoods.
Bison ecology and encounters
- Commenters describe bison size, speed, and agility (including jumping fences), emphasize they can be dangerous, and advise viewing from cars or behind fences.
- Yellowstone’s road‑blocking herds and winter access are discussed as iconic experiences.
Other threads
- Comparisons are drawn to the scale of modern livestock slaughter.
- Beavers are mentioned as another heavily exploited species with a less “cinematic” story.
- The thread includes wordplay, sports jokes, and side discussion of how to access PBS (streaming vs over‑the‑air).