Welcome! Is it true that bison can run faster than 50 km/h? Do they really spend more than 9 hours a day eating? Find out the answers to these and other fascinating facts in this article!
The bison is the largest land mammal in the United States. They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg) and stand as tall as 6 feet (1.83 meters)! With all that weight, you might think they’re slow, but surprisingly, they’re not! A bison can run at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 km/h)! And they’re also excellent swimmers.
So, what’s the difference between a bison and a buffalo? Buffalo live in Africa and Asia, have longer hair, and are generally larger. The scientific name for the American bison is Bison bison.
Did you know the bison is the national mammal of the United States? On May 9, 2016, President Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act.
This animal also played a significant role in Native American culture. It had spiritual importance and provided food, clothing, shields, and tools.
Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Their ancestors came from southern Asia and are believed to have arrived in North America around 400,000 years ago, during the Pliocene epoch. Those early bison were much larger and had horns nearly 10 feet (3 meters) long.
And what’s their weakness? Bison don’t have great eyesight, they rely more on smell and hearing. The loud grunts and bellows they use to communicate can be heard from far away.
Bison have brown coats, but calves are born with a reddish-orange color, which is why they’re often called “red dogs” when they’re young.
Did you know you can tell a bison’s mood by looking at its tail? If the tail is hanging down, the animal is calm. But if it’s standing straight up, it could be ready to charge. Since they’re wild animals, it’s important to remember they can feel threatened and become aggressive without warning. In fact, every year there are incidents involving people who get too close.
Bison mainly eat grass, leaves, and plants. They spend 9 to 11 hours a day grazing, consuming about 1.6% of their body weight in food daily. In the wild, bison typically live 10 to 20 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 40 years.
📚 Data source:
https://www.nps.gov/articles/15-facts-about-bison.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bison.htm
https://animapedia.org/animales-terrestres/bisonte/
https://atlasanimal.com/bisonte/
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