60 Million Strong — Then Almost Gone
Before European settlers arrived, an estimated 30 to 60 million bison roamed the vast plains of North America. They were the heartbeat of the continent — shaping the land, sustaining Indigenous nations, and defining the wild spirit of America.
The Slaughter
In the 19th century, American hunters systematically decimated the bison population in one of the most devastating acts of wildlife destruction in human history. Driven by commercial demand for hides and tongues — and fueled by a deliberate government policy to undermine Indigenous peoples who depended on the bison — hunters killed tens of millions of animals in just a few decades.
By the 1880s, fewer than 1,000 bison remained. A species that had thundered across a continent for thousands of years was pushed to the very edge of extinction.
Hunting as Entertainment
Among the darkest chapters of this era was the rise of so-called "sport hunting" from moving trains. Railroad companies advertised excursions where passengers could fire rifles from the windows of passing trains at bison herds grazing alongside the tracks — leaving carcasses to rot where they fell. Thousands of animals were killed this way purely for amusement, with no use made of the meat or hide. It was slaughter disguised as leisure.
A Species on the Brink
The near-extinction of the American bison stands as a stark reminder of what happens when we treat nature as an infinite resource. The plains fell silent. The land changed. And a way of life for countless Indigenous communities was shattered.
The Road Back
Thanks to conservation efforts that began in the early 20th century, bison populations have slowly recovered. Today, around 500,000 bison exist in North America — but only a fraction live in wild, free-roaming herds. The work is far from over.
That's why we're here. Every piece of jewelry we create is a tribute to the bison's resilience — and a commitment to ensuring they never face that fate again.