American Bison

There are two subspecies of the American Bison: the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) and the Plains Bison (Bison bison bison.) The Wood Bison is very large, reaching up to 2 meters high, 3 meters in body length, and up to 1,130 kg in weight. It’s the largest land mammal in North America and the third largest species of wild cattle in the world after the Asian Gaur and the Wild Asian Water Buffalo. In winter, the American Bison is covered with a thick wooly coat of a dark brown color. The head, shoulders, hump, and forequarters are covered with longer hair. In summer, the coat is short and light in color. Bisons love water and can smell it from miles away.

Though the American Bison may seem slow and bulky, it’s very fast and agile. Bisons are able to outrun and out-maneuver most horses. Bisons can run for many miles, jump up from a standstill, and traverse rough and rocky terrain. American Bisons may allow people to approach them, but at the same time, they are unpredictable and may be aggressive.

The American Bison can thrive in any climate from Kodiak Island to Hawaii and Florida. These animals are very sturdy, endurable, and healthy. They have few natural predators and can defend themselves from Gray Wolves and even Kodiak Bears. Weak and ill animals, especially in winter, can be attacked by a pack of wolves. Young calves can become a prey for a variety of predators, but the herd protects the calves and may kill a predator who tries to get to the calves placed in the middle of the herd.

The history of the American Bison is long and tragic. Long time ago, these animals came to America from Asia through the Bering land bridge. They have always been an important source of meat and hides for the Native Americans. European settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries killed Bisons in great numbers not for meat, but for their skins and just for sport. Only several hundred of Bisons were left in the late 19th century. The American Bison was preserved only due to the efforts of a small group of ranchers who organized the American Bison Society.