Typically, the big fluffy animals that people call buffalo are actually bison, while true buffalo look more like large bulls. The two are related though. Bison and buffalo are bovines a subfamily of bovids , but bison are in a different genus from buffalo. Other relatives include antelopes, cattle, goats and sheep. There are two different species of bison: the American bison and the European bison. Department of the Interior. The American bison is the largest mammal in North America.
It grows to 7 to They weigh to 2, lbs. The European bison is the largest herbivore in Europe, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. It is around 9. While it's around the same length as the American bison, it is typically heavier.
By any name, they are formidable beasts and the heaviest land animals in North America. Bison stand some 5 to 6. Despite their massive size, bison are quick on their feet. When the need arises they can run at speeds up to 40 miles an hour. They sport curved, sharp horns that may grow to be two feet long. These large grazers feed on plains grasses, herbs, shrubs, and twigs.
They regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before final digestion. Females cows and adult males bulls generally live in small, separate bands and come together in very large herds during the summer mating season.
Males battle for mating primacy, but such contests rarely turn dangerous. Females give birth to one calf after a nine-month pregnancy. Bison once covered the Great Plains and much of North America, and were critically important to Plains Indian societies. During the 19th century, settlers killed some 50 million bison for food, sport, and to deprive Native Americans of their most important natural asset.
The once enormous herds were reduced to only a few hundred animals. Today, bison numbers have rebounded somewhat, and about , bison live on preserves and ranches where they are raised for their meat. A bison calf between two adults. Today the refuge's herd includes an estimated bison. Photo by Nils Axelsen www. Photo by Jennifer Michaud www. The National Bison Range in Montana.
Photo by Ryan Hagerty, U. A bison watching over a calf at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Diana LeVasseur www. Photo by Tim Ehrlich www. A bison charging through a river at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Donald Higgs www. Bison in the snow at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Brad Starry www.
Bison herd on the move. A bison rolling around in the dirt. Bison standing in the snow at the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming. Let the creator of this mind-boggler help clear things up. Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status.
Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. And Other American Bison Facts. Share this page:. It's Bison, Not Buffalo. Are bison and buffalo the same? Both bison and buffalo are in the bovidae family, but the two are not closely related.
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