Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleF
I've on occasion wondered why Buffalo/Bison basically went extinct in North America in the 1800s. Did they herd and migrate in an unpredictable way that they'd just blow go right through settlements and destroy everything in their path? Hunting, fine. High demand, sure? But beavers weren't taken out till there weren't any left. Why did they do it for Buffalo/Bison?
Is there some facet of the stupidity of bison that contributed to their demise that the tiniest tip could wipe them all out? Like... Pandas? Is that partially what head smashed in buffalo jump is a testament to? With a pair of horses and some loud noises, we can run an entire herd of buffalo off a cliff?
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The beaver pelt was a basic material catering to a particular fashion which was replaced by the silk top hat, thus saving the beaver.
Buffalo were very easy to kill, once the long rifle was produced, and useful right down to the bone (collected and ground into fertilizer).