Page 50 - 2019 JUL/AUG Outdoor Oklahoma

Watchable Wildlife
The American Bison by Justin Veach, Information Intern

O K L A H O M A’ S
Watchable Wildlife

the a meriCaN bisoN

by j usti N v eaCh, eduCatioN i N terN

The American bison, often mistakenly referred to as the Male calves will usually leave after about three years.
buffalo, is the largest mammal in North America. A male Despite their huge bodies, American bison are very
bison, called a bull, can stand up to 6 feet tall, weigh from agile. They have the ability to spin around quickly and
1,000 to 2,000 pounds, and can be up to 12 feet in length. can jump up to 6 feet vertically. When they charge, they

The heaviest wild bull recorded weighed about 2,800 can reach speeds up to 40 mph. One fun fact about the
pounds. A female bison, called bison is that its tail can indicate
Despite their huge bodies,
a cow, tends to be much smaller, if it is ready to charge. If the

averaging about 1,000 pounds American bison are very tail is hanging down naturally,
in weight. charging is unlikely. But if the
agile. They have the
Bison are covered in long, tail is standing straight up, the
ability to spin around
shaggy, thick dark-brown fur bison could be ready to charge.
during winter, and a thinner, quickly and can jump up to American Indians and early
lighter-brown coat during sum- European settlers learned that
6 feet vertically.
mer. Newborn calves have red- bison are very difficult to domes-
dish fur, giving them their nickname “red dogs.” Their fur ticate, and their large bodies and quickness made them
turns light brown after a few months. Bison have two sharp dangerous to be near.
horns that can grow up to 2 feet in length. They have a large In 2016, President Barack Obama made the American

hump on their back made of muscle that helps them use bison the first national mammal of the United States.
their large heads to push masses of snow out of their way. Once numbering up to 50 million, bison were found

The average lifespan of a bison in the wild is 10 to 20 years. nearly everywhere in large, vast numbers across America.
Cows start to breed around age 2. But by 1890, market hunting had reduced the population
Female bison usually stick together in a herd while male to less than 1,000. In 1905, William T. Hornaday and
bison will go off on their own or join other male bison in their Theodore Roosevelt created the American Bison Society

own herd. The two herds will join during the mating season, to try to save this animal from extinction. The Bronx Zoo
which usually occurs between July and September. Domi- and Yellowstone park also played important roles in bison
nant bison mate first, and their calves will enjoy a better food conservation efforts. In 1908, the federal government

supply and the possibility to grow larger. Gestation lasts for established the National Bison Range in Montana. Due to
around 285 days, and a newborn calf will usually nurse until conservation efforts and commercial breeding, bison now
the next calf is born. Calves will stay with the female herd. number about 500,000.

48 WATCHABLE WILDLIFE