Back from the brink of extinction, the American bison just got an official promotion on May 9, 2016 to be the
U.S. national mammal.
The North American Bison (or American Buffalo) is a very different beast than a cow,
even though it is from the bovine family. It is a massive beast of fur and muscle,
that can reach up to 2,000 lbs.
Here Are Some Great Photos And Info For You. Enjoy! :)
The American bison and the European wisent are the largest terrestrial animals in North America and Europe.
Bison herd in winter. They are nomadic grazers and travel in herds.
The bulls leave the herds of females at two or three years of age,
and join a male herd which is generally smaller than the female herds.
Mature bulls rarely travel alone.
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 buffalo.
The once enormous herds were reduced to only a few hundred animals but have
since rebounded. The American plains bison is no longer listed as endangered,
but the wood bison is on the endangered species list in Canada.
Bison are good swimmers and can cross rivers over half a mile wide.
Due to their size and herd behavior, the buffalo are often a hinderance to
motorists on the Yellowstone Park road.
During the winter, their close packed mentality helps keep them warm.
The bison's temperament is often unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful,
unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning
or apparent reason. Despite their hefty size, buffalo are quick on their feet.
When the need arises they can run at speeds up to 40 mph. and cover long
distances at a lumbering gallop.
Bison most obvious weapons are the horns borne by both males and females, but
their massive heads can be used as battering rams, effectively using the momentum
produced by 2,000 pounds moving at 35 mph. Their curved, sharp horns can grow to
be 2 feet long.
The infamous 'bison road block'.
Buffalo enjoying some 'mud pots'.
The average bison can expect to live about 12-15 years at Yellowstone.
Cute little buffalo with a snow-mask.
Cow birds help the bison get rid of insects, while they get a meal.
Bison usually mate in July-August and give birth to a single calf in April-May.
There's a little one right there having its milk.
Females (cows) and adult males (bulls) generally live in small, separate bands
and come together in very large herds during the summer breeding season.
Males wage battles for mating rights, but such contests rarely turn dangerous.
The bison is too big an animal not to go wherever it wants, even across rivers.
Bison sticking together. Most animals can't kill a buffalo. But there have been
several successful kills by bears and wolf packs.
Bison slowing down traffic even more on a snowy day.
A majestic creature that has walked the earth just as long as we have, the bison
deserve our respect and protection. Go see them at Yellowstone National Park.
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