Bison are very large animals that can run very fast. Irrespective of their size, they can run up to 55 km per hour. They possess humped shoulders along with short-sized legs which have hair all over them.
Also, they possess an elongated tail with a hairy end that is known as a tuft. Other than that, their coat is very much thick which provides them warmth in cooler temperatures. In the warm weather, they shade their long hairs to keep them cool.
Just above their eyes, black and short horns are present. They used these horns to protect themselves from any predators. Their eyesight is very weak. But their sense of smell as well as hearing is very good. They can get the smell of any animal located 3 km away.
Male ones are known as bulls. They possess large necks. On the other hand, the females specifically possess rounder and smaller necks and they are known to be bison cows.
Where The Bison Are Found?
Bison belong to the family Bovidae. In North America, there is the existence of two subspecies of bison i.e. wood bison meat and the plain bison meat. But, there is a rapid depopulation of the bison in North America due to the different aspects of European colonization.
Talking about the Canadian bison, the plains one has got extinct by the late 1800s. The other type of the Canadian bison i.e. wood bison numbered about 200. Due to this reason, current conservation efforts are carried in both United States and Canada.
Habitats
Bison meat mainly feed on plants, grass, and in some cases, berries. They do not face any difficulty finding food in the winter season. Also, for finding grass, they sway their big heads from one side to another. This helps them to push the snow away.
They are known to be outstanding swimmers. But, this creature is so buoyant that the hump, head, as well as tail, remain above the water surface.
Facts To Know About Bison
- Bison are the largest land animals of North America. Canadian bison are considered to be very popular.
- The weight of mature cows is about 1,000 pounds whereas the weight of mature bulls ranges about 2,000 pounds.
- The length of a bison is about 10 to 12.5 feet whereas its height is about 6 to 6.5 feet.
- The hump of a bison is specifically composed of muscle. These are again supported by long vertebrae. With the help of this, they can use their head for plowing through snow.
- About 500,000 bison are raised globally on ranches as livestock. Other than that, about 30,000 bison are conserved in public and private herds.
- It is evident from fossils that Yellowstone National Park in the United States is considered to be the only place where bison lives from prehistoric times.
Final Words
So, the above-discussed ones are considered to be some of the interesting facts that you should know about bison or Canadian bison.