Ologies with Alie Ward: Bisonology (BUFFALO) Encore

Original Air Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Alie Ward
Guests: Dr. Ken Cannon (archaeologist/anthropologist), Dr. Dan McNulty (ecologist), Lila Evans (Montana State Legislator, Blackfeet Nation member), Boyd Evans (rancher)

Episode Overview

This encore episode of Ologies is all about bison ("buffalo"). Host Alie Ward takes listeners on a quirky, science-rich, and often hilarious exploration of North America’s largest land mammal by interviewing a diverse cast: an archaeologist, an ecologist, a Montana legislator, and a hands-on rancher.
The episode delves into bison biology, their fraught history and miraculous recovery, the nuances of buffalo vs. bison terminology, the animal’s cultural significance, the politics of preservation, and many delightful bison facts.

Main Guests

• Dr. Ken Cannon – Research professor of anthropology, Utah State University; expert in bison archaeology (ancient bison, kill sites, U.S. West).
• Dr. Dan McNulty – Ecologist, Utah State University; longtime Yellowstone animal behavior researcher, specializing in modern bison.
• Lila Evans – Member of the Blackfeet Nation; former Montana State Representative; bison rancher.
• Boyd Evans – Rancher; longtime bison steward; brings practical insights into raising buffalo and Native perspectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What’s a Bisonologist?

• [05:42] Alie (to Ken): “You’re a bisonologist?”
  Ken: “That’s part of my job, yes. … I hadn’t heard that term before.”
• Both Ken and Dan embrace the “bisonologist” label, even if they’ve never heard it before.

2. Early Fascination & Careers in Bisonology

• Ken’s journey: From marine biology aspirations in New Jersey to bison archaeology out West, inspired by finding bison bones at a Grand Teton dig site. “How can you minimize bison in the archaeological record when all the bones you’re finding are bison bones?” (07:03)
• Dan’s journey: Born in Illinois, raised in California, hooked on the sciences after a stint in Hong Kong—career pivot crystallized in Yellowstone (15:03): “You work hard and focus, it’s possible to make this a career.”

3. Bison vs. Buffalo: What’s the Difference?

• [19:58] Consensus among all guests: Use either term, “no such thing as the difference” (Boyd & Lila).
• Etymology: “Buffalo” is a misapplied term but has stuck; “bison” is technically accurate for our North American species.
• Taxonomy: Bison bison (Plains and Wood Bison, the latter being bigger), with ongoing taxonomic debates (20:29).

4. Deep Bison Time: Evolution & History

• Bison migrated from Eurasia ~20 million years ago (23:04), survived several species transitions (Bison latifrons, then Bison antiquus, then modern bison).
• Bison latifrons: “huge, huge, huge horns—like 10ft long… just a monster.” (23:32)

5. Near Extinction: A Cautionary Tale

• Late 1800s: Human-driven collapse from 30 million to as few as two dozen bison in the wild (28:34).
• Bison elimination was used to drive Indigenous people onto reservations: “Bison were weaponized in a lot of ways.” (29:15, Dan)
• Remarkable recovery: From the hidden pockets of Yellowstone’s remote Pelican Valley to 5,000 bison in Yellowstone today.

6. Bison Life, Biology, and Behavior

• Sizing: Bulls up to 1200+ lbs, females around 800 lbs (25:51).
• Anatomy: Majestic beards ("They've been hipsters for a long time", 26:48), hulking humps (energy & fat stores), thick fur (insulation, sheds in summer).
• Social structure: Bulls roam, females with cow-calf groups, rut season full of bison drama (30:27).
• Counting bison: “With aircraft…they’re so big, they’re actually easy to count.” (32:33, Dan)

7. Myth Busting: Bison Are Not Cows

• "Yellowstone is not a petting zoo." (34:35, Ken)
• Bison: “Fairly tolerant... more than I would be,” but still wild and dangerous; can run 30mph, not to be underestimated (73:03).
• Brucellosis: Often blamed on bison, but “To the best of my knowledge, there has not been any instance of bison infecting livestock…all transmission has involved elk.” (54:59, Dan)

8. Bison and Indigenous Peoples

• Lila (Blackfeet): “Historically…they [the Blackfeet] followed the buffalo. … When their hides became valuable back East…everybody went to killing buffalo.” (18:00)
• Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC): Actively restoring bison to tribal lands for cultural, ecological, and spiritual purposes (41:21, 57:29).

9. Raising & Ranching Bison

• “They’re a lot smarter [than cows]…way more social…run around in one little pack.” (44:39, Lila & Boyd)
• Treats: “They love crab apples!” (46:27)
• Bison meat: Tastier and leaner than beef; the commercial bison you eat is not from conservation herds (44:12, 80:26).
• “Not all bison burgers are created equal,” and many chain restaurants sell older/leaner/higher-fat meat.

10. Buffalo Culture and Symbolism

• White buffalo: “Big medicine” to the Blackfeet, deeply spiritual significance (91:19).
• Bison in dreams: “A symbol of survival and abundance...pay attention to the path you’re following.” (33:44)

11. Conservation, Coexistence & Future of Bison

• Limited range due to housing/agriculture: “Wildlife is increasingly hemmed in…” (48:12, Dan)
• Population ceiling is a social, not biological, decision: “If we want more bison, we can have more. The question is whether we’re willing to make the tradeoffs.” (50:54)
• Most herds are on ranches; wild herds are carefully managed, sometimes with regulated hunting.
• Not Endangered? “Even though they were down to a couple dozen…they have never been on the endangered species list.” (81:20, Ken)

12. Listener Q&A Highlights

• European bison: Smaller, woodland-adapted cousins (64:25).
• Are bison related to mammoths? “Not in the least, other than they’re mammals.” (72:40)
• Bison's small butts: “It’s all in the hump…business in the front. Look at my hump.” (71:46)
• Bison wallowing: Behavior for shedding fur and removing parasites, not just emo vibes (69:17).
• Birds (magpies) on bison: “They’re eating parasites...ticks, flies, things like that.” (77:10)
• “Buffalo. Buffalo. Buffalo…” sentence: Grammar fun—see [78:51] for the full mental gymnastic.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “How can you minimize bison in the archaeological record when all the bones that you’re finding are bison bones?” – Ken, [07:03]
• “Bison were weaponized... They were being eliminated to basically drive Indians onto reservations.” – Dan, [29:15]
• “The bison from Buffalo who are buffaloed by buffalo from Buffalo, buffalo other buffalo from Buffalo.” – Alie, [79:08], explaining the crazy grammar sentence
• “They’re a lot smarter...[than cows] They’re Independent. They’re wildlife.” – Lila & Boyd, [44:39]
• “Wildlife is increasingly hemmed in...it’s not just an issue of livestock grazing; it's pavement, houses, fences, swing sets.” – Dan, [48:12]

Important Timestamps

• Etymology (“bison” & “weasel” connection): [04:30]
• Archaeology of bison kill sites: [06:03]
• Decline from 30M to a few dozen bison: [28:34]
• Counting bison by aircraft: [32:33]
• Bison herd structure and migration: [30:27], [26:10]
• Indigenous perspectives on buffalo: [18:00], [41:21]
• Taxonomy and wood bison: [20:29], [22:24]
• Brucellosis/myth-busting: [54:59]
• Bison and birds: [77:10]
• Fur insulation capacity: [65:37]
• Q&A rapid fire (fun facts): [63:18]–[73:36]

Fun Facts (“Did You Know?”)

• “Bison bison” is the scientific name; “Bison bison bison” can technically be correct.
• Early bison (Bison latifrons) had horns nearly 10 feet across.
• Bison were nearly driven extinct as a deliberate act of colonial genocide.
• Bison wallows are actual pits formed by behavior, not just emotional wallowing!
• Bison can “shed” their coats by rolling; their fur insulates so well that snow doesn’t melt on their backs at –30°F.

Organizations & Resources Mentioned

• Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC): itbcbuffalonation.org – Tribal bison restoration, education, and advocacy.
• All My Relations podcast: For Indigenous perspectives.
• Ed Yong’s Atlantic article: “What America lost when it lost the bison.”

Closing: The Heart of the Matter

At its core, this episode is about the weird magic of bison—how they're misunderstood, adored, and woven into the fabric of North America. Alie’s joyful curiosity and her guests’ deep knowledge make this a must-listen for nature nerds, history buffs, and anyone interested in how animals reflect--and challenge--our own cultures.

Final word:

“If we want more bison, we can have more. There are ways of doing that… it’s a social, not a biological, decision.” – Dr. Dan McNulty, [50:54]

For more information and links: alieward.com/ologies/bisonology

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