Where are they found?
They are found in the open plains of U.S. and Canada originally, where it is known as "Buffalo". Now it is only found in parks and reserves.

What are they?
A mammal.

What do they look like?
The Bison has a massive head and forequarters covered with long, dark brown woolly hair. It has a short neck, and high humped shoulders, with tufted tail. Long hairs of its chin form an impressive beard. The hips and hindquarters are much smaller, forming a slope from hump to tail. Some stand six feet at the shoulder and weigh as much as a ton. They have short, sharp horns and their shaggy winter coat falls off in patches in the spring. It is dark brown in winter and lighter in summer.

How long do they live?
The American Bison's life span is 18-22 years.

What do they eat? Grasses. They drink water once a day. They graze mostly in the mornings and evenings. Breeding The Bison mate in August and September. The gestation period is 270 - 285 days. They give birth to a single reddish coloured calf in May or June. The females will always calve alone and rejoin the herd when the calf can stand up. The new-born develops the characteristic hump at two months, it is nursed for one year and matures at three years.

Are they rare?
Two races of bison are recognised: Plains Buffalo and Wood Buffalo of Canada. Their number was reduced to 750 in 1890. They were then protected and now number about 50,000. Bison live only in parks and reserves.

Did you Know?
Bison have a highly developed sense of smell and good hearing. The bulls can run up to 30 mph. The herds migrate every year in groups ranging from a single family unit to thousands at a time.


The Bison/ Buffalo will eat snow when their water supplies are covered by ice!