The American Bison, commonly known as the buffalo, is the largest mammal born in North America. They are members of the Bovidae family. There were once many millions of these animals across North America, but today their population has been greatly reduced due to hunting and habitat loss.
1. Name: Bison (/ˈbɪʃən/)
2. Size: Up to 1 ton (816 kg)
3. Habitat: Grasslands, pastures, prairies, savannahs, forests, deserts, tundra, swamps.
4. Domestication: 15,000-10,000 years ago.
5. Diet: Herbivores, grasses, shrubs, roots, tubers, fruits, seeds, insects.
6. Bison have long horns that curve back, much like rhinoceroses.
8. Calf calves weigh less than 20 pounds [10 kg] at birth, and their eyes open after four days.
9. American bison are native to North America and Central Asia. They were once widespread across North America but were hunted to near extinction due to overhunting.
10. There are only about 2200 American bison left today. This number has been steadily decreasing since the mid-1800s.
12. American bison have five stomachs that help them digest their food effectively.
13. American bison were once common throughout the Great Plains of the United States.
14. In the early 1800s, the U.S. government began to exterminate them as a means to control overpopulation in the West. By 1873, only about 300 remained.
16. They may look like cows, but they're actually more closely related to horses than any other domestic animal.
17. American bison live in family groups called bands. Each band contains anywhere from 10 to 100 individuals, depending on the size of the herd. A typical herd consists of bulls, cows, calves, yearlings, and young adults.
18. Bison have been domesticated since prehistoric times. They are used in rodeos and other sports events because they are strong and fast, but can also be gentle and affectionate.
19. There are many different breeds of domesticated bison, including the Shorthorn and Belted Galloway, among others.
20. They cannot survive without human intervention.
22. To survive, these animals have adapted their behavior to fit into human society. For example, they tend to avoid people and stay out of sight unless approached. When cornered, they stand their ground and become aggressive.
23. Native Americans used to hunt them for food, clothing, and shelter. Nowadays, they are hunted for sport.
25. American bison mate for life; however, females may leave their calves if they find better grazing areas.
26. Bison's skin is thick and leathery, but they have soft underbellies that make them vulnerable to being trampled by other large mammals.
27. In addition, these animals have been known to migrate over hundreds of miles in search of food and water.
