American Bison

(Bison bison)

Live: Open plains of US and Canada originally, now found only in parks and reserves

Habitat: Open grass plains of US and Canada

Diet: Grasses. They only take water once a day, and they eat snow when water is covered with ice.

Gestation: 270-285 days, single reddish-coloured calf is born in May or June

Longevity: 18-22 years

Status: Stable population.

General: Bison is a Greek word meaning ox-like animal.  American bison have a massive head and forequarters covered with long, dark brown woolly hair, short broad forehead, short neck, and high humped shoulders, with a tufted tail. Long hairs on the chin form a long beard. Hips and hindquarters are much smaller and without long hair, thus forming a distinct slope from hump to tail. Some stand six feet at the shoulder and weigh as much as a ton. They have short, sharp, upcurved horns. Their shaggy winter coats fall off in patches in spring; colour is dark brown in winter, lighter in summer.

They graze mostly in the morning and evening, spending much of the day resting and grooming. Grooming involves actions such as scrubbing the head, neck and sides on trees, branches and tree trunks. They also like to wallow in dust or mud. They have a highly developed sense of smell, good hearing and will charge when cornered. Bulls can run up to 30miles p/h.

Herd size varies from a family unit to thousands for migration. Cows and offspring live in hierarchical groups led by a dominant female. Males tend to live in bachelor herds, joining females for mating season. Fights for rank in the herd often end with serious injuries or death. Not territorial.