For thousands of years, before settlers ever pushed West, massive herds of bison were shaping the landscape of North America—grazing, fertilizing, disturbing the soil, and moving on.
These enormous animals traveled across the grasslands in search of fresh food, but their grazing also influenced what grew after they moved through.
There's a phenomenon biologists call the green wave.
As spring arrives, fresh grass begins growing across the landscape, and grazing animals follow that new growth in search of the most nutritious food. Often that means starting at lower elevations, where the grass greens up first, and gradually moving toward higher elevations and their traditional summer ranges.
Researchers studying bison in Yellowstone discovered that large herds don't simply follow the green wave. By grazing the same areas repeatedly, bison encourage fresh grass to grow, essentially creating their own green wave.
I love thinking about the enormous herds that once moved across the American West. Millions of animals grazing their way across the plains, leaving behind hoofprints, manure, disturbed soil, and grass that would grow again.
Just another reminder that bison are moving and shaping the life of the landscape. And it's another reason why we love bison.
