Wood bison calf

During the early 1800s, wood bison numbers were estimated at 168,000, but by the late 1800s, the subspecies was nearly eliminated. Excessive hunting was the primary factor leading to population decline. Another factor that is thought to have played a role in the decline in wood bison in Canada is a gradual loss of meadow habitat through forest encroachment. Although not quantified, it is likely that because of fire suppression, and subsequent forest encroachment on meadows, there was a loss of suitable open meadow habitat for wood bison throughout their range through about 1990. Image taken from USFWS Alaska Region Flickr page.