Bison officially U.S. National Mammal

Washington  (CSi)  Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp say President Barack Obama has official signed into law legislation naming the bison as the U.S. national mammal.

In a news release, Heitkamp’s office pointed out that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the National Bison Legacy Act in December 2015, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill this month, sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The National Bison Legacy Act recognizes the historical, cultural and economic impact that bison have had – and continue to have – in the country throughout history. Many Native American tribes in North Dakota and across the country consider the bison sacred, and bison remain an important part of Native culture and heritage and today.

There are bison in all 50 states, whether in parks, refuges, or zoos.

Heitkamp said:  “Bison embody the spirit and strength of our great country, and I’m proud to have co-sponsored this push to make the bison our national mammal.  For thousands of years bison have been a noble fixture of the prairie, and they have long played an important and revered role in Native cultures. Our conservation efforts have restored their herds, once on the verge of extinction, so there are now 500,000 roaming the continent. Bison are woven into our heritage, from the North Dakotans who first homesteaded on the plains to the modern day. Look no further than an NDSU football game to see what a proud symbol of North Dakota and our nation this noble animal remains.”

Hoeven stated:  “The bison is now officially the U.S. National Mammal and rightfully so. Bison are strong, proud and free, and a truly American icon with an incredible story. These noble creatures were brought back from the brink of extinction in our nation’s first great conservation effort. They are also an important spiritual symbol for many Native Americans. So, for all Americans, the bison is the right choice to be our national mammal. We look forward to honoring our new national mammal – hopefully with a live bison – at an induction ceremony in our nation’s capital.”