Bison

What is a bison?

Bison are native to both North America and Europe. American bison, often called American buffalo—though they are not true buffalo—are symbolic of the North American plains. These large animals once covered the Great Plains and played an important role within Indigenous communities. Sadly, during the 18th and 19th centuries, vast numbers of bison were slaughtered for food, sport, and as an attack on Indigenous communities, to the point of near extinction. Thankfully, their population has recovered, with up to 400,000 bison now known to exist in the world.

As the largest and heaviest land mammals in North America, bison are known for their massive size. The American bison’s head is so heavy that it can’t be raised to shoulder level. They also have pronounced humps at their shoulders and large, powerful bodies. American bison are covered in shaggy, dark brown fur that grows longer around their head and neck, forming a ‘beard’. Both male buffalo (bulls) and female buffalo (cows) have short, upcurved horns on the tops of their heads, though cows’ horns are smaller. Adult bulls are larger than cows, with males reaching up to two metres (6.5 feet) tall compared to 1.5 metres (5 feet) for females. Male bison are also substantially heavier than females, weighing 900 kilograms (1980 pounds) compared to 320 kilograms (700 pounds).

European bison, also known as wisent, differ from American bison in various ways. They tend to be larger than American bison, with longer legs, though their bodies are less stout. European bison typically live in the woodlands, and although some American bison do occupy woodlands, they are more commonly found in the grasslands and plains.

Despite their vast size, bison are agile and fast, reaching speeds of up to 65 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour). They are also strong swimmers and can jump over fences. Bison tend to run or stampede away from threats and predators. Historically, their two main predators have been wolves and human hunters.

Bison are herbivores, with diets consisting mainly of grasses, herbs, twigs, and leaves. Their strong, muscular tongues help them tear and consume vegetation. When they eat, bison regurgitate their food and chew it a second time before finally digesting it. In the winter, their shoulder hump comes in handy. It allows them to swing their head from side to side to help clear snow and access the grasses below.

Groups of bison are called herds. They tend to live in smaller herds with one or more females and their offspring. Adult males tend to live on the periphery of these groups, sometimes forming their own small herds. Every now and then, herds will join together to form much larger groups, which can number in the hundreds.

During mating season, bulls will attempt to assert their dominance through head-butting. After breeding, cows have a nine-month gestation period, after which they will usually give birth to a single baby bison, called a calf. Both bulls and cows are protective over their calves.

Bison are of great ecological importance to their habitats. Their grazing patterns promote plant diversity and help prevent the dominance of certain plant species, maintaining a healthier balance within the ecosystem. Their role in shaping and maintaining healthy grasslands can aid in carbon sequestration, as diverse grasslands store carbon more effectively than degraded ones.

What is a bison’s scientific name?

The scientific name for American bison is Bison bison. The scientific name of the European bison is Bison bonasus.

There are two subspecies of American bison: the wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) and the plains bison (Bison bison bison).

Bison are members of the Bovidae family, which also includes antelopes, sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo, and bison.

Sometimes, American bison are mistakenly called buffalo. It’s believed that the term buffalo derives from the French word for beef, ‘boeuf’. Bison are not true buffalo like the African buffalo, water buffalo, and anoa.

Are bison endangered?

According to the IUCN Red List, American bison are near threatened. Their status is largely due to their dependence on conservation efforts.

In terms of the IUCN Species Recovery Category—or the Green Status assessment—American bison are considered critically depleted with a species recovery score of 17%. They are classed as critically depleted mainly because the American bison population is no longer found in many of its original habitats. The future of American bison populations looks hopeful, though, as they are rated with a medium recovery potential.

European bison are also classified as near threatened, though their populations are increasing. Their growing numbers are thanks to strong conservation efforts, which saw the reintroduction of European bison to the wild after they went extinct in the wild following World War I. Between 1988 and 1996, they were classified as vulnerable. From 1996 until 2008, they were considered endangered. Since 2000, their populations have increased. The European bison was classified as vulnerable in 2008 and near threatened as of 2020.

Where do bison live?

Bison are highly adaptable animals, able to live in diverse climates from the deep snow to the driest, most arid locations. Historically, American bison were widespread across the vast grasslands of North America, from Canada’s plains to Mexico’s deserts. While they’re still found across North America, their range is now less than 1.2% of what it once was. Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the United States where bison have lived uninterrupted since prehistoric times.

European bison originally inhabited forests and woodlands across Europe, from France to the Volga River and the Caucasus Mountains. They were reintroduced to several regions after they went extinct in the wild. They can now be found in countries including Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.