The Wilderness of the Pioneers

When people think of the frontier images of wilderness automatically come to mind. Modern people often try to recapture the essence of the wilderness with camping, backpacking and a myriad of other outdoor activities. But can we? The wilderness the early pioneers found was vastly different from what we have today. A large number of the animals that populated the Eastern Frontier have faded into obscurity.

The common picture of buffalo is that of large herds blanketing the western plains. These magnificent animals also existed in the east. The buffalo played an important role in the settling of the frontier. They were a reliable food source to many of the early inhabitants. Many expeditions credited the availability of buffalo meat with saving them from starvation. The hides kept many a man from freezing during the harsh winters. Aside from these apparent benefits the buffalo also provided the early roads. These animals would find the easiest routes, keep them clear and hard packed. Some of these buffalo traces became well known and are still in use today. The Great War Trail, Cumberland Gap, and the Avery Trace all were originally traveled by buffalo. Many of the traces would inevitably lead to salt licks thus keeping the frontiersman supplied with this essential commodity.

The tongue of the buffalo became a highly sought after delicacy. The hides also were becoming marketable. The natives had long considered the buffalo their cattle. Now they, along with many French and English Longhunters, began decimating the herds and leaving most of the animal to rot. The lure of quick profit and European goods proved too strong.

Another large animal usually associated with the West is the Elk. During the 18th century elk roamed much of the Eastern Frontier. Elk were an excellent food source because one elk could contain as much meat as several deer. Elk hide was one of the choice materials for moccasins and leggings as it was soft but durable. Hide hunting and loss of habitat brought about their extinction in the East.

The black bear was common in all areas of the Eastern Frontier. Bear meat, fat and hides were important staples to those that lived there. While not completely gone from the region they only exist in small patches and are rare enough to be considered a novelty.

Many predators were nearly eliminated. These include the red wolf, cougar, fisher, and the otter. Few people of that time understood the importance of keeping a balance between predator and prey.

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