Oklahoma has always had a complicated relationship with wildlife. As more and more deer are hit with vehicles each fall, I guess we still do.
But it used to be more than deer across our plains. Oklahoma was home to grizzly bears, gray wolves, native elk, and millions of bison, which were all hunted out of existence as settlers pushed west.
They were considered threats, competitors, and good meals. By the time Oklahoma was a state, most of them were long gone…