The American Bison
Have you ever seen real bison? Perhaps you call them buffalo. Most people do. Early settlers called bison “buffalo,” and the name stuck.
But North America’s largest land animal is not a member of the Asian or African buffalo family. The American bison is a close relative of cattle.
There are herds at some national parks and refuges. Many Indian reservations and ranches also have herds. Let’s learn more about these iconic American animals.
Herds of bison
Experts say there were about 60 million bison in America when the Europeans first arrived. By the 1880s, the settlers had killed all but about 500. Bison were nearly extinct.
Today, bison live in all 50 states, on both private and public lands. With a population of around 350,000, they are no longer endangered.
Meet the bison
There are two subspecies of bison: the plains bison and the wood bison. The wood bison is generally larger.
Male bison, or bulls, weigh up to a ton (2,000 pounds) and may be 6 feet tall. Bison cows weigh around 1,100 pounds and are 4 to 5 feet tall.
Baby bison are sometimes called “red dogs” because their fur is reddish in color when they’re born. When they’re a few months old, their fur starts to turn dark brown and the characteristic hump begins to grow.
Native Americans and bison
Native Americans thought the bison to be sacred animals. They hunted the large animals for food, clothing, shelter and fuel. The Plains Indians needed the bison to survive.
For example, people built tepees and used bison skins to cover the poles. They ate the animals’ meat and used the fat for fuel. Bison meat
Today, bison meat is becoming more popular. You may see bison burgers or steaks on menus or in the grocery store.
Ranchers say they like raising bison because they require less care than cattle. Bison calves are more likely to survive than beef calves because they are born later in the year, after blizzards are no longer a threat. In addition, bison can eat tougher grasses than cattle and can forage for grass under snow.