http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brea_Tar_Pits This post is in response to Adisa--After reaching the Wiki insert, please be sure to click onto the link that leads to the George C. Page Museum.
This excerpt and link below led me back to this thread:
Louisiana congressman Robert Broussard also provided a history of the adaptation of other imported animals to the American landscape- ostriches in California, Russian reindeer in Alaska, and African Camels in the American Southwest.
There is a need to understand the story that is found on the above link, and it is going to be logged on other threads so that we do not lose this valuable information.