Bison bring up many romantic ideals of a time gone by. At one time bison ranged over much of the country, a cornerstone species in their ecological niche.
After being nearly exterminated by overhunting they have made a heroic comeback.
Bison or Buffalo
American bison are large, even-toed ungulates in the Bovidae family. This mammal's name is American bison but they're more commonly known as buffalo.
However, the term buffalo actually belongs to Water Buffalo and Cape Buffalo that are native to Asia and Africa. They are all in the Bovidae family, as are cows, but not closely related.
American bison are unique to North America. Europe has its own species of bison which were also hunted to extinction in the wild but made a comeback through captive breeding programs.
American bison have light brown fur with a darker shaggy mane that extends from its neck to its mid-back. Their head has a distinctive hump and they have short black horns.
American bison are the largest land mammals in North America. They typically weigh between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds and stand 5 to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder.
Plains bison. Photo by Jack Dykinga USDA.
Species Variation
Did you know there are two species of bison in North America? The Plains Bison and the Woods bison.
Plains Bison
The American plains bison are the iconic beasts we associate with. They are smaller and have shorter hair than the American woods bison. American plains bison typically live in open prairies.
Woods Bison
The American woods bison is darker in color than the American plains bison. These bison lived in northern forests from Alaska down through the Rockies and as well as some in the Appalachian Mountains.
Today’s wood bison is not a true phenotype as they became hybridized in the 1920s in a conservation effort to save the species from extinction. However, some near true species exist in conservation parks in Canada.
Wood Bison in Alaska. Photo by Murray Foubister
Extermination of the American Bison
The bison had been a sustainable food source for Native Americans for many thousands of years. American bison once roamed the Great Plains of North America in massive herds.
They became a vital part of the Native American Plains cultures who depended on them as a source of food, clothing, and tools. In fact, they made over 200 different articles from the bison.
The wood and plains bison population was decimated by habitat loss, hunting, and diseases brought by cattle. However, the real tragedy is that the government simply slaughtered hundreds of thousands in an organized effort to destroy the livelihood of Native Americans.
The Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council was founded in 1992 and is formed with a collection of 69 federally recognized Tribes from 19 different states. The Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin is one of the participants.
Their mission is to develop bison herds on Native lands to restore historical, cultural, traditional, and spiritual relationships for future generations. They work closely with the National Park Service.
Read our article What Native Americans Teach Us About Sustainability.
Do Bison Live in Herds?
American bison live in herds. Herds can consist of anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred American Bison. They are very social creatures and spend most of their lives grazing together.
American Bison bulls tend to live alone or with another bull, but the cows live in groups called 'crèches'.
Because American Bison are so social, they are very susceptible to herd dynamics. If one American Bison gets sick or injured, the whole herd can be affected.
Fun Facts
Bison calves weigh 30–70 pounds at birth.
Their scientific name is Bison bison bison. Say that three times fast! (genus: Bison, species: bison, subspecies: bison)
Baby bison have the nickname “Red Dog” because when they are born they are a reddish-orange color.
Diet
Bison are herbivores and eat predominantly grasses and sedges. However, they also consume leaves and brushes. In winter they will browse on willow and cottonwood trees.
Bison are ruminants and have a specialized stomach. The act of fermenting and rechewing their food allows them to digest tough plants and get the most nutrients from them.
Predators
Being humongous does not stop predators from coming after you. Besides man, the bison’s predators include wolves, grizzly bears, and mountain lions.
Bison calf. Photo taken at Yellowstone National Park by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.
Reproduction
Females don’t mature and breed till they are three years old.
American bison typically mate from July through September and give birth nine months later. American bison can live for about 20 years.
During mating season, American Bison are very aggressive. They have even been known to charge at each other at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
Bison in Kentucky
Bison were originally native to Kentucky. Early explorers such as Daniel Boone and Christopher Gist recorded seeing bison herds in their travels. They were also eaten at Fort Boonesborough.
In fact, the early explorers and before them, the Native tribes who hunted here used the bison trails to navigate around the woods and fields. Some even ended up becoming state roads.
Today bison can be observed at many of Kentucky’s parks including Big Bone Lick and Land Between the Lakes.
Bison in Wisconsin
Before white settlers arrived bison flourished across Wiscon predominantly in the southern and western areas of the state. They were quickly hunted to extinction although in the 1920 several people began to cultivate herds which were later used to help repopulate.
Today bison live on several state and federal properties in Wisconsin.
At the Sandhill Wildlife area has a 260-acre enclosure with 15 bison. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is managing the bison to restore native prairie and oak savanna habitats. Oak savanna is a natural open landscape that is dominated by prairie plants with scattered oak trees.
100% Bison
Bison have been hybridizing with cattle for hundreds of years. This has created health issues and less natural resistance among bison.
Yellowstone National Park is the only known place in the U.S. where bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times. These bison are considered genetically pure descendants (free of cattle genes) of early bison that roamed the Great Plains.
Yellowstone has one of the largest bison herds on public lands. As of 2020 Yellowstone's bison population was estimated at 4,800.
Many zoos including the Henry Vilas Zoo participate in a bison breeding program to ensure a pure line. I took a close encounters class at the zoo and was able to bond with Wilma. See the video below.
Bison and the Environment
Bison are important for the health of America's prairies. By grazing on grasses and removing invasive plants, buffalo help keep the prairie ecosystem healthy.
They also spread seeds from one location to another, helping new grasses grow and allowing other plants to take hold. Without the American Bison, our prairies would not be as healthy or as biodiverse.
Bison Safety
We’ve all seen videos of people who don’t abide by common sense or park rules and get too close to a bison in the wild. They are then attacked and sometimes severely injured.
Bison are wild animals and even though they often live in parks and see numerous people they still follow their instincts. These instincts are what keep them safe from predators.
Bison show that they are agitated and feel threatened by pawing the ground, shaking their head, snorting, and/or raising their tail. Humans are instructed to stay 75 feet away from bison.
How are Bison Restoring the Prairie?
The American Bison has played a vital role in the restoration of America's prairies. . In many areas, bison are being reintroduced to help recreate the lost biodiversity of the prairie. Thanks to the buffalo, our prairies are coming back to life.
What Is Being Done to Improve American Bison's Habitat?
There are a number of things that are being done to improve American bison habitat. For example, The Nature Conservancy is working to create corridors of land that will allow American bison to move between different areas.
American Rivers is working to improve the quality of American bison habitat by removing invasive species and restoring river systems in certain American bison ranges.
The American Bison Society, for its part, organizes American bison conservation efforts through educational outreach programs. Their “Save the American Bison” campaign encourages American citizens to help American bison by planting American bison food, taking American bison educational tours, and donating American bison products.
One place that bison are successfully being used to restore prairies is the American Prairie Reserve. They want to create one of the largest nature reserves in North America. The American Prairie Reserve has created a system where ranchers can lease their land for bison conservation while continuing to run their cattle. This is a win-win situation for both the ranchers and the environment.
How Can We Improve Habitat for American Bison?
There are several ways that we can improve habitat for American bison.
First, we can work to create corridors of land that will allow American bison to travel between different areas. This is important because American bison need a lot of space to roam, and they need access to a variety of different habitats in order to survive.
Read our article on Wildlife Corridors.
Second, we can work to improve the quality of habitat on American bison ranges. This includes things like planting more grasses and other plants that American bison like to eat, removing invasive species, and managing water resources in a way that benefits American bison.
Finally, we can promote American bison conservation through education and outreach efforts. By raising awareness about American bison and their conservation, we can build support for American bison conservation within the American population.
The American Bison is an important part of our natural heritage. By restoring America's prairies, buffalo are helping to keep our ecosystem healthy and vibrant. Let's give thanks to these amazing animals for all they do for us.
Bison as Livestock
American bison have been used for a wide variety of purposes throughout American history. Bison meat has grown in popularity because it is considered healthier than beef.
American bison meat is often called 'bacon of the prairie' because it tastes like beef but has less fat. The meat is also very high in protein and iron.
Most of the bison sold in stores is from hybrid bison with considerable cattle genes. This also moderates their behavior somewhat although bison can be quite dangerous to work with on the farm.
Pure bison are allocated for conservation programs.
Take Away
Thanks to conservation efforts, American bison populations have rebounded in recent years, and there are now estimated to be around 300,000 American bison in the United States. However, only about 30,000 of those are in conservation programs. The rest are for agricultural use.
Author, Ame Vanorio, is the founder of Fox Run Environmental Education Center.
When white European settlers came to America they saw a land rich in natural resources. They looked at the land and saw many things that could be harvested and sent back to Europe to sell. Trees, wildlife skins, tobacco were all in great demand across the ocean. In this blog, we will discuss how the Native Americans were the first environmentalists on American soil and how their practices can benefit the world today.