There is evidence that the Great Plains Buffalo aka Bison territory was far reaching into the regions west of the RockyMountains, including the Great Basin. Dr. C. Hart Merriam, (1855-1942) was a multi-faceted individual who adorned many hats from zoologist ethnographer. In his studies of a naturalist in the West he intrigued about mammals historic territory. Unlike his colleagues, he contacted Native American tribes for their knowledge. Merriam soon realized this resource was finite. He focused on many Native American tribes elders of Northern California. Because of his work, we have a window of the past.

Merriam recounts that the Indians of the Northeastern
California, which he deemed trustworthy and that indeed buffalo did roam there. In Lassen, particular, the buffalo they inhabitated the eastern side county primarily, Madeline Plains, Horse Lake and Pine Creek Valley. It is belief that the buffalo in these parts had disappeared prior 1800. It should noted that in 1930, when a reservoir went dry in southeastern Oregon they discovered skeleton remains of a bison.

Tim