Texas Fauna Project

American Bison

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Jim Derr is a genetics professor at Texas A&M University who has studied American bison for many years. Here he talks about the various causes that contributed to the near-extinction of the buffalo during the late 19th century. Those factors certainly included the usually cited reason - massive hunting. However, Derr also points to exotic and lethal diseases introduced with cattle, along with mobility and habitat loss from barbed wire fencing strung up to hold cattle.