Wild West Animals

Animals of the Wild West

The American frontier teemed with wildlife that played vital roles in the lives of settlers, cowboys, and Native Americans. From the vast herds of buffalo that once darkened the plains to the predators that stalked the wilderness, animals shaped every aspect of frontier existence.

The Great Herds

The American bison (buffalo) was the most important animal of the Great Plains. An estimated 30 to 60 million bison roamed North America before western expansion. They provided food, clothing, shelter, and tools for Native American peoples. The near-extinction of the buffalo through commercial hunting in the 1870s and 1880s was one of the greatest ecological disasters in American history.

Predators and Companions

Wolves, mountain lions, and grizzly bears were constant threats to livestock and settlers. Rattlesnakes and scorpions made desert travel treacherous. On the friendlier side, cattle dogs helped cowboys manage herds, and mules carried supplies through mountain passes that horses could not navigate. Learn about the frontier ecosystem in our lexicon.

Encounter the Wild

In our Wild West RPG, the natural world is as much a part of the adventure as the human drama. Encounter wildlife on the trail, track animals for survival, or face down a predator protecting its territory. The frontier is wild in every sense of the word.