Bison / American buffalo; photo © James Ownby: My View of Nature (all rights reserved; used by permission).
Official State Mammal of Wyoming
Wyoming designated the American bison as official state mammal in 1985. The American bison is also a state symbol of Kansas and Oklahoma, and as of May 9, 2016, the official national mammal of the USA. All State Mammals
Legislation
"TITLE 8: GENERAL PROVISIONS; 8 3 111. State mammal. The Bison bison, commonly called the American bison or buffalo, is the state mammal of Wyoming."
Bison Facts
A bull bison can weigh over 1800 pounds and stand 6 foot tall at the shoulder. Bison once roamed the American prairie by the tens of millions and provided a way of life for Native Americans of the Great Plains, but European settlers hunted bison to the brink of extinction (it's estimated that between 300 - 500 animals remained when the federal government passed stricter game laws in 1889).
The American bison (Bison bison) is an inseparable part of American history; no other wild animal has played such a significant role in human affairs. The Native tribes of the American Plains relied on bison for food, shelter, clothing, and as a powerful spiritual symbol.
