The Extermination of the American Bison

"The Extermination of the American Bison" by William T. Hornaday is a historical record from the 1800s that explores the existence and the unfortunate wipeout of the American bison, emphasizing what happens when humans mess with wildlife. Hornaday wants to bring attention to the dangers of carelessly destroying wildlife by telling the story of the bison's decrease. The book starts by describing the first times Europeans saw the American bison, beginning with Montezuma's zoo in the 1500s. Hornaday explains how adventurers and settlers found bison all over North America, pointing out how many there were and how far they spread. The story shows how much human actions, like hunting and ruining their homes, hurt the bison population, leading to talk about how the species slowly disappeared and the immediate need to protect them.