A simple question.
Where there buffalo in New York? 
It’s possible that there were buffalo in Western New York, but I doubt it. The origin of the city’s name is disputed; it’s believed to have come from a munged French name like beau fleuve (beautiful river). (In fact, Buffalo Creek was named that before the city next to it was established.)
Bison originally ranged from Florida to New York, the Carolinas to Washington state. By the early 1800’s they had disappeared east of the Mississippi river.
Origin of the name ‘Buffalo’ (No one knows, but there are lots of theories.)