What is the United States national mammal?

Let's call it like it was. White settlers pushed through the Great Plains and massacred the American bison herds to near extinction, much the same way they wiped the passenger pigeon, the most abundant bird in North America and possibly the world, from the face of the earth. It was pure greed, since they killed the bison indiscriminately for their pelts alone, leaving the carcasses to rot, without using the rest of the animal. The Native Americans, the ones called "savages", had more respect for the animals and took only what they needed and when they did kill an animal, they used all its parts. Critical to their survival, bison not only provided Native Americans with food, shelter, and tools, but a model on how to live. To American Indians, bison also represent their spirit and remind them of how their lives were once lived, free and in harmony with nature. From beard to the tail, American Indian nations used every part of the bison. Because the bison provided many gifts—from tepees and clothing made from hides, to food from their flesh, to soap from fat, and tools made from bone, they were honored as relatives and paid tribute to through songs, dance, and prayers. They were more ecologically advanced than we are today.

The bison didn't have a problem with "people" until the white settlers arrived and started pushing westward. The Native Americans treated the animals with the respect that they deserved.

Please note that European descended Americans of the late 1800's deliberately killed bison en-mass in an effort to expell Native American Plains Indians from the Great Plains.

Certainly absolutely deplorable what was done to the Bison and First Nations people but hooray for Obama.

Their being endangered and the lack of knowledge of some do not make the fact less true! By the way, the word is "mammal".

Let's call it as it really "was" William. Settlers may have killed the occasional bison for food, but it was professional Hunters doing several thing. One was killing buffalo to feed railroad workers on the Union Pacific,but far more importantly in terms of the effect. They shot them for their skins. "Settlers" generally stood by and watched what was happening, but the vast majority were farmers, not hunters. Thus happened to dovetail nicely with eliminating the Plains Indian's source of protein. Not settlers,but simply slaughterers.

Debbie Wright, are you saying that William Laughlin is incorrect? Simply because facts don’t suit you does not make them untrue. Early settlers DID massacre bison herds to near extinction and DID wipe the passenger pigeon from the face of the Earth. These facts are pertinent because they relate to the question. Why you would take offence is beyond me...

Some wag once suggested that the difference between a buffalo and a bison was that a 'bison' was something we Australians washed our hands in :)

Jmz N Nesky I think you may be missing the point of naming a national bird or tree or anything else. First, usually the choice is based on the uniqueness of said animal or plant to the state or nation or its ubiquitous quality. It can become a point of pride, a rallying point if you will. Second, the naming of an animal on the endangered species list adds to its prominence and may bring more attention to the preservation of said animal.

Gregory Chandler I'm not sure I understand your point. Yes, "massacred." What I said is no laughing matter. Do you understand the meaning of the word?

Thank you, William Laughlin...

Several different possibilities mentioned. The bad guy (the majority of time) seems to be GREED.

I wouldn't know. I live in NZ, not the US.

William Laughlin, I totally agree...except that these people are now called NATIVE AMERICANS and that they have nothing to do with the sub-continent of India.

El Diablo and poisonous snakes were in the glades. That's why no settlement at that time. I'm not scared of the ole devil.

Oh wow lets recognise a beautiful creature, luckily it was not wiped off the face of the planet not dissimilar to the first people.....

Actually it was Teddy Roosevelt who saved the bison from extinction. He put them on trains and sent them to Yellowstone or maybe it was Yosemite, until their numbers increased. They were then released into their natural habitats, with federal protections.

William Laughlin, ditto and underline!

Richard Jamieson, Bald eagle a mammal? Not likely....

Joanne Serin, Richard Jamieson said he thought the USA national mammal was the bald eagle.

I had a picture of a squirrel up. not a buffalo Once the answer came up it was a buffalo. Not impressed.

William Laughlin, you make a great point, it's true what you just written, you know your history, and I approve with you because that is exactly what happened.

Wmc Barker, that's a buffalo, not a bison.

Chrissy Krainock Luders, there is (was?) also a herd of bison on Catalina Island.