Question: Is it Buffalo Meat or Bison Meat?

Answer: Even though referenced in popular folklore and campfire songs, the buffalo did not, in fact, roam in America. The animal commonly referred to as a buffalo, is in fact, the American Bison.  Officially, there are two species of buffalo, the African Buffalo and the Asian Buffalo, but these animals are completely unrelated to the American Bison and they don’t even look like Bison. So technically, the Buffalo has never been native to North America.

There was a time when bison had nearly died out in the country’s Bison Belt. Their meat was valued for being rich in nutrients and high in protein, however the real value in bison during the westward movement was the animals’ large and plush hides.  A select few small herds survived the near extinction by hiding in isolated areas such as Utah’s Antelope Island or Pelican Valley near Yellowstone National Park. In the early 1900’s, a few ranchers tried to revive the bison by gathering small herds together in order to create a sustainable population. Because of the diligent work of these ranchers to reestablish the bison as a mainstay in North America, the North American Bison is no longer an endangered species.

For the last couple of decades, ranchers and bison enthusiasts alike have worked hard to reintroduce bison as a consumable meat, a delicious alternative to beef.

So, in answer to your question, buffalo and bison are often used interchangeably to describe this delicious meat, but technically, it is “bison” meat.