The American Bison: Nature Snaps

 The American Bison: A Nature Snap

Have you ever wondered why the American Bison has been named the mascot of football teams, placed on official seals, and highlighted on state flags? Well it turns out it's because they are awesome! Here are some fun facts that prove just how amazing the United States national mammal is:

    1.) The American Bison is the largest mammal in North America. With bulls weighing up to 2,800 lbs, these grassland giants weigh as much as 14 full grown men! Some bison raised in captivity have even been recorded to get as heavy as 3,800 lbs. That is more than the weight of 15 refrigerators!

    2.) Bison were a significant figure in many Native American cultures. Native Americans had a sacred relationship with the bison, some tribes thought of them as their brethren, and believed they were the first humans born. Other tribes believed that the bison emerged from the earth, or sacred waters. The bison was central to Native American life, as it provided a substantial food resource. One bison kill was used for over 150 purposes

    3.) You can judge a Bison's mood by its tail. When bison are calm, their tails hang low, naturally twitching periodically to swat away flies. However, if a bison's tail is pointing up, this means they are either very excited, or very angry. They do this to communicate with rival bison, telling them to back off

    4.) Even though they weigh a lot, they are quite athletic. Bison may appear to be slow and lethargic due to their grazing behaviors, however they have quite incredible athleticism. They can run up to 45 mph, and jump over 6 feet high. This really annoyed European settlers who tried to domesticate them, since the bison would jump over or bulldoze down any fences they tried to use to contain them. The fencing structures used today to contain them consist of 20ft tall steel poles made from welded beams, sunk at least 6 ft into concrete

    5.) Bison loooooove to get dirty. One of their most commonly observed behaviors is called wallowing, where they roll around on their backs in the dirt. Researchers have many hypotheses as to why they engage in this behavior, including relief from insect bites, and trying to stay cool. The depressions in the ground created from this behavior provide important ecosystem engineering which enhances plant and animal diversity in prairies

    6.) Bison have four stomachs. Bison spend 9-11 hours every day grazing on grasses, sedges, and other grass-like plants. In order to digest these plants, bison have 4 stomachs that contain various microorganisms and bacteria that break down the very tough grasses, allowing them to maximize the nutrients

    7.) Bison eat barf. Ok, this one may be a bit of an exaggeration, however bison do regurgitate their food back into their mouth after it has been in their stomach in order to further break it down and aid in the digestion process. This is called ruminating, and it is very common among bovine and other ungulates. Digesting grass is a very challenging process, and this aids bison in extracting as many nutrients as possible from the plants

    8.) Bison almost went extinct in the late 1800s. Despite having an estimated population of 60 million in the 18th century, bison were hunted to near extinction. They were hunted for their meat, tradable goods (fur, hides, bones), and as an attempt to drive Native Americans out of the region. By the end of the 1800s, the bison population in North America was reduced to less than 300 individuals, a whopping 99.9995% reduction in population

    9.) Conservationists, such as President Theodore Roosevelt, helped save Bison from extinction. Many conservationists worked to save bison from extinction, and in 1905 Roosevelt used his presidential powers to secure lands, procure bison from ranchers, and promote reintroduction projects. Thanks to these efforts, bison populations have since soared, reaching 500,000 individuals in 2017

    10.) Yellowstone is the only place American Bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Due to the continental culling of bison leading to drastically low populations, Yellowstone National Park is the only place where bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times and their emergence in North America

    11.) Bison can be dangerous to humans. While safe to watch from a respectful distance, if you get too close, or touch a bison, they can attack. Between 1980 and 1999, there were 79 people injured as a result of being charged by bison, with injuries ranging from goring puncture wounds and broken bones, to small bruises and abrasions. Over that same time period, bears were responsible for only 24 human injuries

    12.) Bison calves are referred to as "red dogs". When born, bison are roughly 40-50 pounds, and have a reddish-cinnamon, or even orange fur tone. They are ready to walk within minutes of being born, and their fur develops into a darker brown as they age

To see a more in depth profile of the American Bison, check out The American Bison: A Nature Profile