Bisonology (BUFFALO) Encore with various bisonologists - Ologies with Alie Ward Recap
Podcast: Ologies with Alie Ward
Published: 2025-11-19
Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Guests: Ken Cannon, Dan McNulty, Lila Evans
Summary
This episode covers the history, biology, and cultural significance of bison, featuring insights from experts in anthropology, ecology, and ranching.
What Happened
In this episode of Ologies, Alie Ward revisits the world of bison through conversations with various bisonologists, including Ken Cannon and Dan McNulty. Ken Cannon, an anthropologist from Utah State University, discusses the etymology of 'bison' and its connection to the word 'weasel' due to their shared musky odor. He explains how he became interested in bison while working at Grand Teton National Park in the 1990s, where archaeological sites frequently contained bison bones.
Dan McNulty, a Utah State University ecologist, shares his journey to studying bison, which began with his interest in wolves at Yellowstone National Park. He explains how the last wild bison were discovered in Yellowstone's Pelican Valley in the early 20th century, surviving due to the valley's warm ground that provided refuge during harsh winters.
The episode also touches on the history of bison in North America, with Ken Cannon providing a timeline of their evolution and near extinction. He highlights the drastic reduction of bison from millions to just a few dozen due to the fur trade and habitat disruption in the late 1800s.
Boyd and Lila Evans, ranchers from Montana and members of the Blackfeet tribe, discuss their experiences raising bison and the cultural significance of these animals. They describe bison as social creatures that communicate with grunts and have a playful nature.
The conversation delves into the differences between bison and cattle, with Dan McNulty noting that bison are more independent and better adapted to harsh environments. The episode also addresses common myths about bison, such as their role in transmitting brucellosis to cattle, which has been largely debunked.
Finally, the episode considers the future of bison conservation, discussing the impact of development on their habitats and the efforts of organizations like the Intertribal Buffalo Council to restore bison populations on tribal lands.
Key Insights
- The word 'bison' shares etymological roots with 'weasel' due to the similar musky odor both animals emit.
- The last wild bison were found in Yellowstone's Pelican Valley in the early 20th century, where warm ground conditions helped them survive harsh winters.
- Bison populations in North America plummeted from millions to just a few dozen in the late 1800s due to the fur trade and habitat disruption.
- Bison are more independent and better adapted to harsh environments than cattle, and the myth of bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle has been largely debunked.