Class:

Bison

Species:

bison

Subspecies:

athabascae (woods)
bison (plains)

Late 1800s bison almost became extinct. They were saved by the American Bison Society. Often called buffalo by early scientists who thought they were related to the Africa/Asian water buffaloes. French explorers also called the animals "les boeff" - the cattle.

Size:

Male    Female   Calf

2000     1000   30-70

Height (ft)

 5.5-6   4.5-5.5   2.5

Rut:

June-September (one bull forms a temporary "tending bond" with one cow at a time)

Gestation:

9.5 months

Birth:

April -June (reddish, brown fur, no conspicuous hump)

# young:

Usually 1

Age:

12-15 years

Habitat/
Range:

At one time bison roamed North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, western California to western New York.

Food:

Enemies:

Occasionally grizzly, humans, extinct prairie wolf

Disease:

Communication:

Grunts/snorts between cow-calf, roar by bulls during rut

Behavior/
Characteristics:

Generally cow/calves in herd together, bulls alone or in small bull herd except during the rut.