Two species of huge, shaggy wild cattle: the American bison, often called buffalo, and the European bison, or wisent. The American bison fell from about 60 million to just 541 animals by 1889.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?Yes
Among the most dangerous animals in North American parks: in Yellowstone, bison injured three times as many people as bears did in 1980–1999.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?Yes
It was the principal food of the Plains peoples of North America.
At a glance
Found inNorth America, Europe
HabitatGrassland, Forest
ColoursBrown
SizeHuge
HeightUp to about 1.9–2 m at the shoulder (American bison)
Weight318–900 kg (American bison)
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives inherds
Lives for15–20 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- North America (American bison) and Europe (European bison).
Did you know
About 60 million once roamed North America; by 1889 just 541 were left.
The European bison was once extinct in the wild; its IUCN status has since improved to Near Threatened.
Often confused with
- Buffalo
The American bison is often called a buffalo, but it isn’t one of the true buffalo.
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A photo, a few hints, one guess. Same 438 animals.
