Bill for Buffalos?

I have recently read an article by Danielle Taschereau, with a picture I have seen before (https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/features/historical-photo-of-mountain-of-bison-skulls-documents-animals-on-the-brink-of-extinction/?oly_enc_id=6688I3244356C3Z). The picture in question, is of a monstrous mountain of North American bison skulls, with the tiny figure of a man standing atop. The picture was taken outside Michigan Carbon Works in Rougeville in 1892. Taschereau points out that, at the close of the 18th Century, there were between 30 and 60 million bison on the plains of North America. At the time the picture was taken, however, there were only 456 left. It is well known that the animals were highly regarded by the indigenous people who lived alongside them on the plains. The bison were largely slaughtered by Europeans with guns for a combination of reasons. These included a demand for hides and to remove an animal that would compete for grazing with their imported cattle. Some reportedly thought that, removing the bison, would remove the indigenous 'indians'. There are currently a few remants of the 'buffalo' in zoos and on the farms of specialist producers of 'buffalo burgers' (the meat is said to be healthier than beef). I am always surprised (as seems Taschereau) that this story appears less well known than that of the Passenger pigeon (rendered extinct by shooting in North America). The North American bison was an intrinsically much more important element, by their grazing, wallowing and migrating, in the ecosystems of the plains of that continent. Their 'passing' must have disrupted many other species. The West is hardly 'wild' anymore!