Plains bison (Bison bison) are an iconic symbol of the American West and yet the species came close to being wiped out by the early 20th century. European settlers managed to decimate the herds containing tens of millions of animals that covered the plains and sustained many Native American tribes. In the early 1900's a small group of a couple dozen animals were discovered tucked away in Yellowstone Park and careful management in the years since has allowed that number to grow to approximately 5000 animals, some of which are now being relocated to tribal lands in Wyoming and Montana.