Bison

Then there are these prehistoric looking beasts... At the beginning of the 1800s when explorers were pushing the western boundary of the United States there were estimated to be roughly 65 million of these shaggy leviathans roaming North America. During the course of the century the population was decimated. At the turn of the century it was estimated that only 1,000 bison remained. Legislature was passed in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho as well as within the federal lands of the National Park. In twentieth century the bison population has rebounded with over 150,000 continent wide and over 4,000 just within the park boundaries. Four thousand seems like a lot and it is, but in a park that is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined it seems low. The first time I saw bison I was not prepared for how large they are. They are largest land mammal in North America and stand close to seven feet tall. They are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the National Parks. While they aren't carnivores they will regularly charge (at speeds up to 35 miles an hour) and gore visitors...which is kind of like getting run down by a truck with horns...