What contributed to the near-extinction of the buffalo on the Great Plains?

• A. Overhunting by various groups, including railroad expansion
• B. Drought
• C. Disease
• D. Competition from cattle

Answer: (A)

Mass exploitation of the buffalo through large‑scale hunting, made possible by railroad expansion, drove the species toward extinction. As rail lines pushed further west, hunters could reach vast herds and ship hides to eastern markets quickly, turning the buffalo into a commercial resource to be consumed or traded regardless of population. The relentless slaughter was often reinforced by government and military actions that disrupted Native American ways of life tied to the buffalo, accelerating the decline. Drought and disease did affect some herds, and later cattle competition added pressure, but the scale and speed of the kill driven by market demand and easier transport explain the near‑elimination of buffalo on the Great Plains far more than those other factors.