Once revered as a symbol of the American West, bison have returned from the brink of extinction, with more than 350,000 now living in public and private herds across North America. Organizations such as the National Buffalo Foundation support the species’ continued preservation by informing the public about the importance of bison through partnerships between producers and consumers, a relationship that celebrates the species’ heritage and helps build a strong future for the bison industry. Bison meat, widely marketed by the industry, is lower in fat, higher in protein and nutrients, and has fewer calories than other meat sources, and its density tends to satisfy more while eating less. In the United States, about one million pounds of bison meat are consumed each month, and bison has become increasingly common in restaurants and on backyard grills. Bison also draw visitors to western parks, where people come from across the country and around the world to see them in natural settings at places including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, National Bison Range in Montana, Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota, and Custer State Park, supporting local tourism and economic growth. Films have also helped protect and popularize the species by portraying bison as a central part of America’s frontier past, entertaining audiences while educating the public about the nation’s heritage.