Imagine,
- The North American Bison, also known as the buffalo, is the largest land animal in North America. Their size is awe inspiring, males weigh in between 1000-2000 pounds, females up to 900 pounds. These animals can stand up to six feet tall covered with a thick mat of brown fur and mane keeping them warm during the harsh winter months. To top it off, the powerful beast is a set of large horns that are used for fighting and protection. It is hard to mistake a bison with such dominate characteristics.
You are what you Eat, - Bison are large but gentle creatures. As herbivore piggies, they eat low grasses and sedges. They are constantly on the move looking for more grazing areas.
Range Summary,
- Before human intervention, bison ranges ranged from Mexico up to Canada. They roamed prairies savannas and grasslands. They now reside only in captivity.
Responsible Parents,
- Bison females reproduce once a year. Yielding one calf a year, mother and father tend to their offspring protecting it from predators. Calves will stay with the mother for about a year until it gains independence. Females will breed 2 to 3 years later as it takes 6 years for males to breed.
Threats,
- Though bison are excessively large and powerful, winter months and predators are a great threat to bison's survival. Wolves and grizzly bears pick off bison easily as cold weather causes starvation.
Variety of Friends,
- Bison live in a verity of herds. Grazing and resting in the afternoon, bison love to spend time with others, they are not super independent animals. On average, male and female herds amount to 20 individuals at a time with one dominate male and female.
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