Bison

NPS Photo /L. Cisneros

Scientific Name

Bison bison

Identification

• 1,000-2,200lbs (male); 790-1,200 (female)
• Generally dark, chocolate-brown in color, with long hair on their forelegs, head, and shoulders, but short, dense hair on their hindquarters.
• Both sexes have relatively short horns that curve upward; males’ horns tend to be slightly longer than females’ horns

Range and Habitat

The primary habitats for bison are grasslands and prairies. These mammals once inhabited almost two-thirds of the North America and were a keystone species in the prairies of the Great Plains. However, populations and habitats decreased significantly with westward expansion, overhunting, and agriculture.

Today, individual bison herd ranges across the country are small, and the species no longer occupies its historic range as wildlife. Some wild bison can still be found in national parks, wildlife refuges, and on tribal lands, but most bison today exist as private property on private lands.

This is the case along the Missouri National Recreational River. Wild bison are an extirpated species, meaning they are no longer found in the wild in the area. However, the Yankton Sioux Tribe maintains a bison herd on their reservation along the 39-Mile district of Missouri River. The herd can sometimes be seen near the Yankton Sioux Treaty Monument.

Diet

Bison are not picky eaters and eat a wide variety of leafy grasses and sedges commonly found in mixed-grass prairies. These types of plants include species such as Blue gramma, sand dropseed, and little bluestem. Although bison graze heavily on grass species, they will occasionally consume woody vegetation when food is limited.

Fun Facts

• Bison are the largest land mammal in North America and are the national mammal of the United States.
• Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour.
• Check out 15 more Facts About Bison!

 

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