12 It was not until the 1970s, when ranchers began acquiring bison with an eye toward encouraging a boutique meat market, that the species rebounded in significant numbers. (A) The population of bison increased a lot in the 1970s because ranchers saw the potential of bison as a kind of meat on the table and started to raise them on their farms. (B) Bison eyes became a popular item in many jewelry stores in the 1970s when ranchers developed an interest in purchasing bison. (C) Many one-eyed bison boutiques were opened in the marketplace in the 1970s, which contributed to the fast growth of the species on ranches. (D) There was a big increase in the numbers of the bison species in the 1970s when ranchers started to appreciate its beauty.