The bison once ranged freely over much of North America, and massed in herds by  the millions for its annual migrations. Today, only 50,000 bison remain, confirmed to a few hundred reserves. The American bison is usually referred to by its more common name, Buffalo. It is not only found on the open prairies; there is also a subspecies, the wood bison, which live in the woods and mountains.
 

Habits:  The  Bison live in small herds of approximately fifty animals.  The herd provides defense against predators such as the wolf and coyote.  Although the bison's senses of smell and hearing are sharp, its vision is poor.  Since bison often do not recognize danger until it is too late to flee, the females will surround their young nd the bulls will surround the females, shielding them from their attackers.

Bison spend most of the day grazing in small groups. But where the grazing is particularly good, and during the two annual migrations, hundreds of bison may gather together to feed.  They also take frequent mud or dust baths.  The bison is adapted to withstand the great temperature extremes of its range., which once extended fro Canada to Mexico. It grows a dark, warm shaggy coat which is shed each spring. It is replaced by a shorter, lighter summer coat..
 

Breeding: For most of the year, females and young males live together in small herds.  Mature bulls either live alone or band together in smaller groups.  During the mating season from July to September, the bulls fight over those females that are ready to mate.  In her prime, a female will calve every other year.

Rival males attempt to warn one another off by stamping the ground and bellowing loudly.  If neither bull backs down, they will charge each other, butting their heads together in a contest of strength.  The winner will mate with the female and stand guard over her for several days.  Calves weigh out 65 pounds at birth and are able to stand within a few hours.

Food & Feeding: The bison feeds mainly on grass and other succulent vegetation.  Methodical grazers, herd can cover up to 2 miles a day in search of grass.  Food is chewed and swallowed,
them regurgitated and chewed again.  This method of digestion is known as rumination, more commonly called chewing cud. In addition to its daily forages, the bison also makes seasonal journeys in search of fresh pastures.  Before, its numbers were reached, the bison migrated in vast herds, moving north in spring and south in fall. today, although its range is far more limited, bison in Alberta, Canada still migrate 150 miles each spring and fall

Bison  & Man: When North America ws first settled, the bison ranged over a third of the continent.  Several hundred years later, it was nearly extinct.  The wholesale slaughter of the bison began at the end o the eighteenth century. Unlike the Plains Indians, who only killed as much as they could us,  The wholesale slaughter of the bison at the end o the eighteenth century. unlike the Plains Indians, who only killed as much as they could use, American settlers shot bison by the thousands or their meat and skin, for farmland, and for sport. Entire herds were quickly wiped out. In 1905, the American Bison Society was formed to preserve the relatively few remaining animals.  Today the species is considered safe from extinction.

Key Facts: Sizes, Weight, breeding, lifestyle, related Species

Height:  5 - 6 ft.
Weight: Males, up to 2,200 lb, Females, up to 1,320 lb
Length: Head and body, 7 - 11 ft, Tall, 20 -24 in

Breeding:
Sexual Maturity: Females 2 - 4 years, Males much later
Gestation: 270 - 300 days
No of young: 1 calf
Breeding season: July - September

Lifestyle:
Diet: Mainly grass.
Life span: 20 Years in wild, up to 40 years in captivity
Habit: Sociable and migratory

Related Species: The Closest relative is the European bison, or wisest, Bison bonuses, found chiefly in eastern Europe
Distribution: The Formerly inhabited the prairies of western Canada and the United States. Today found mainly in parks and reserves scattered throughout North America.
Conservation: Today the American bison population totals around 50,000, most of which is the plains bison B. b. bison. The wood bison b. b. athabascae remains endangered.

Features of the American Bison:
Coat: Thick, heavy mantle on head and forequarters keeps the bison warm in winter.  This is shed in spring for a cooler summer coat.
Horns: Used in defense against rival bulls and predators.
Defensive wall:  When danger is near, bulls form a protective shield around females, who in turn protect the young.
Eyesight: Poor, The bison relies upon its sharp senses of smell and hearing..

Did you know:
It is estimated that there were once between 40 and 60 million bison in North America.
Some North American Indian tribes relied almost entirely on bison for their food and clothing.
In the United States, the bison is more often called the buffalo, although it s not closely related to the true buffalo found in Africa.  Zoologists prefer the name bison.
The only place in the United states where the United States here the bison has never been driven out of its range is Yellowstone National Park.