Saturday Designated “National Bison Day” by Senate

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Saturday has been designated "National Bison Day" under a U.S. Senate resolution sponsored by western lawmakers.

The measure is intended to promote the cultural and economic contributions of bison in the United States. It was introduced by Wyoming Republican Sen. Michael Enzi and passed by unanimous consent.

Bison advocates in Congress also this week introduced a broader proposal to elevate the Plains bison to a status similar to that of the iconic bald eagle. A similar measure stalled last Congress.

The largely symbolic moves by lawmakers would give no added protections for the estimated 20,000 remaining wild bison.

Tens of millions of bison, also known as buffalo, once roamed most of North America.