The bison animal is an American relative of bison: a description with photos and videos, interesting facts about bison and their history. Bison - on which mainland does the animal live, where and how does it live Where do bison live in which country

Dear readers, in this article you will learn what the Bison animal is and what importance was attached to it in antiquity on various continents.

The bison is one of the largest land animals in North America and Europe. In nature, there are only two types: American and European. Even at the beginning of the last century, their number was quite large, but the destruction of individuals due to hunting led to the small number of the species.

Rare and endangered species

To date, bison live in the territories of wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas under the protection of the law. Animals are listed in the Red Book. American bison are bred on private farms, there are no wild individuals left. Previously, there was also Pennsylvania, very similar to the usual steppe species.

Animals until complete extinction inhabited the lands of North America. Scientists singled out the Pennsylvania bison in a separate group, thanks to the rich dark color and expressively bent back horns. The hump on the nape is not pronounced and is practically not noticeable. Since 1832, the species has completely disappeared from the globe.

Biological features

Appearance The animal is distinguished by a massive body structure, which is densely covered with thick dark brown hair. The color varies from light to deep dark brown tones, depending on subspecies and habitats. At the withers, the length of the hair is much longer.

The wide forehead is complemented by thick horns. There is a hump on the back of the animal's neck, which enhances the imposing appearance of the animal. Its body can reach three meters in length. Despite their massiveness, the animals swim well and are able to develop good speed.

Powerful and massive bison has a herd instinct. The small number of populations does not allow the formation of huge herds characteristic of it. A group of animals consists of a female and offspring. Male individuals join the herd only during the rut, living the rest of the time alone or in small groups.

Behavior and lifestyle

A herd of bison is constantly on the move, making transitions to new places in search of food. American bison forage in open grasslands and pastures, unlike European bison, which prefer to search for food in the forest. The diet of herbivores consists of tree bark and leaves.

AT summer period they feed on young greens, grass. In autumn, animals supplement their main diet with nuts, wild berries and fruits, acorns,. They feed twice a day, in the morning and evening.

Herds of bison lead an active lifestyle during the daytime and in free time they rest from searching for food, or clean their wool with mud, dust baths. bison american style during the rut or for long-distance migrations, they can combine several herds together.

AT winter period when it is difficult for animals to find food, the herd, on the contrary, can break up into several small groups in the struggle for survival.

In nature, animals have practically no enemies, thanks to the massive body structure and strength, even wolves do not pose a danger to numerous herds. Predators are wary of attacking alone, more often they try to repel young individuals from the bulk.

The strength of the American bison can only be surpassed by the grizzly bear. The European look is quite unpredictable, changing the calm disposition to aggressiveness. The main enemy of the bison is a man who massively exterminates entire populations of the species.

Animal Bison - the embodiment of a symbol in the legends and cultures of the world

In various Indonesian and Asian countries, the buffalo is a sacred creature. In particular, the image of the animal is revered in the South-Eastern part of Asia, India.

In the Buddhist religion, the god Yama, who commands death and the underworld, is depicted sitting on a buffalo. In the lands of Tibet, the heart of an animal symbolizes death.

In Chinese folk beliefs there is a legendary legend about the sage Lao Tzu leaving the country on an animal, implying a calm contemplation of life.

In the countries of the North American continent, the bison is common definition for some similar species animal: bison, buffalo. The image combines opposite meanings, symbolizing the deadly power of a tornado and at the same time prosperity.

Individuals of white color, in view of the unusualness, it was customary to bring as a sacrifice to the gods. After mass extermination the symbolism had to be transferred to maize, which, like the buffalo, is the embodiment of male power and fertility.

The buffalo often personifies a frightening and, at the same time, peaceful power and strength. Sometimes the skull of an animal was used as an altar for ritual sacrifices to the gods.

North American Indian legends and tales tell of the birth of white bison, which are considered to be the harbingers of the pole shift. At the heart of the prophecy is an explanation of the cause of such anomalies caused by unusual combination genes.

The bison is also a special symbol among the Lakota people. It is believed that the animal was given by Mother Earth. Men of the people revere this beast as a symbol of responsibility for their people and the protection of women. White people are treated with great respect. The animal is invariably present in the description of many rituals and customs. Buffalo Ceremony for girls is filled with unsurpassed color and deep meaning.

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Bison - large wild bull, widely known for its physical strength and size. Belongs to the subfamily of the bovine family of bovids. The closest relative of the bison is the bison, with which it is often confused due to its external resemblance.

Bison (Bison bison).

In size, the largest individuals of bison are superior to bison; in terms of body weight, male bison are the largest ungulates on Earth. The weight of bulls can reach 1.2 tons, the height at the withers is 1.9 m, the body length is 2.5-3 m, the weight of cows differs little from the weight of female bison and does not exceed 700 kg. The proportions of the body and coloration of the bison are also very similar to the bison, so at first glance it is difficult to distinguish between these two species. main feature bison - a very steep and high withers, forming a kind of hump in the shoulders, as well as a low head and a very wide forehead. The horns of these animals are short and curved at the ends inward. In addition, the front part of the bison's body is more overgrown with hair, which visually enlarges this beast even more. Especially long hair grows in bison on the shoulders, lower neck and chin, forming a kind of beard. The color of animals varies from almost black to brown. On the shoulders, the hair is always a little lighter, even lighter, almost yellow calf wool. It is extremely rare to find bison of an abnormally light color, they look almost white. American Indians considered such animals sacred.

bison live in North America, in the north their range covers the southern provinces of Canada, in the south it reaches the central states of the United States. There are plains and forest bison. The first subspecies prefers to inhabit southern part range and is found mainly in the prairies, the second lives in the north and enters sparse forests. In the past, both subspecies of bison made grandiose seasonal migrations, with the advent of frost, they migrated to the south and grazed on the plains, where the wind blows away the snow and facilitates the extraction of food. To give an idea of ​​the scale of these movements, it is enough to say that Manhattan Island in New York arose on the site of a shallow formed by the carcasses of bison that drowned while crossing the Hudson. Now the habitats of these animals are artificially limited national parks, therefore, they do not make migrations, which does not prevent them from successfully wintering in protected areas.

A herd of bison swims across the river.

In general, bison are calm and balanced animals, but in case of anxiety they can show aggression. If the forces are unequal, they run away. Despite the huge body weight, these ungulates are capable of speeds up to 50 km / h, that is, they run on a par with a horse. While running, they often exchange short sounds that resemble a cross between snoring and grunting, in regular time they make a low hum.

A female bison licks her calf.

The breeding season for bison runs from May to September. During this period, herds form large clusters, males join groups of females and start fierce battles among themselves. The bulls converge nose to nose and begin to butt, resting their foreheads. From the outside, their movements look heavy and slow, but in reality they are full of strength. To an opponent who did not have time to dodge, the bison is capable of inflicting serious wounds, sometimes with lethal outcome. Pregnancy lasts 9 months, before giving birth, the cow leaves the herd and calves in a secluded place. Occasionally, a female can give birth in a herd, in which case relatives show interest in a newborn and lick it with their tongues. Bison reach puberty at 3-5 years, and live up to 20-25. In nature, they have practically no enemies. In some forest areas, bison are occasionally attacked by wolves. In the event of an attack by predators, females surround the young and run ahead, while males cover the herd from the rear. Sometimes bison enter the water to protect themselves from wolves.

A pack of wolves slowly approached a group of bison, as the ungulates, confident in their strength, are in no hurry to run away. Young animals decided to get away from the approaching predators, and the largest bull turned to meet the danger face to face.

The indigenous people of North America have known bison since the Stone Age. Images of these animals can be found on the walls of caves along with drawings of mammoths. The Indians' hunting for bison did not affect the population, since the killing of such a large animal was not an easy task, and the meat obtained was enough for for a long time thus, there was no need to destroy these animals in large numbers.

But the colonization of America brought white settlers to the continent, who were delighted with innumerable herds - a spectacle unseen in the expanses of Europe. Hunters, armed firearms, began to massively destroy bison, not only for their own food, but also for fun. Sport hunting for bison reached its peak in the 60s of the XIX century in connection with the war of the colonialists against the Indians. To deprive indigenous people food, white settlers began to kill bison without exception, without even bothering to prey hunting trophies. In those days, only the tongue was often cut out of the carcass of a dead animal, leaving mountains of meat to rot in the sun. Another entertainment of the aliens was shooting at the buffalo from the windows of the train, in this case no one counted the killed and maimed animals. To imagine the scale of destruction, it is enough to say that before the arrival of white settlers on the continent, approximately 600 million bison roamed its expanses, and in 1889 their number was only 835 heads! The disappearance of the bison led to the extinction of many Indian tribes. After several decades of slaughter, the vast prairies of North America were a graveyard littered with the bones of ungulates. Recycling of the remains marked the beginning of a new fertilizer industry.

Endless rows of buffalo skulls receding into the distance, stacked for further processing into fertilizer.

Bison were on the verge of extinction, but by this time it had already been created national park Yellowstone, which has become a haven for the largest of the surviving herds. From 200 individuals that survived in the national park, and a few dozen more that survived in other areas, it was possible to obtain offspring and the number of the species gradually recovered. There are now about 30,000 wild animals in protected areas in the US and Canada, and the condition of the species as a whole is regarded as relatively safe, although bison are still listed in the Red Book. In addition, another 500,000 semi-domestic bison are kept on special ranches. These animals are used for meat production along with large cattle. Bison can often be seen in zoos, they tolerate captivity well. These animals are able to give interspecific hybrids with bison and domestic cows.

Modern cowboys are increasingly driving not cows, but herds of domesticated bison.

• KEY FACTS
• Name: European bison, or bison (Bison bonasus)
• Area: Reserves in Eastern Europe
• The number of typical social group: 20-40 animals in the family, at certain periods bison form herds of several thousand heads
• Pregnancy period: 9 months
• Independence: 1 year
• Territory: 30-100 sq. km, depending on the season and food availability

The American bison is also known as the buffalo. It is known that American Indians with special reverence treated these animals. They roamed along with herds of bison, thanks to which they provided themselves with food and clothing.

The bison is the largest land mammal on the European and North American continents.

There are two types of bison: European bison, or bison (Bison bonasus) and American bison, or American buffalo (Bison bison). Bison are distinguished by a massive body structure, they have a powerful rib cage, and the withers protrude with a hump. These animals belong to the order Artiodactyla (artiodactyla). The bison is in many ways similar to a large cow. These species are indeed so close that they can interbreed.

Even 150 years ago, the bison population was incredibly large. In open american prairies their gigantic herds included hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of heads. Due to the hunting of bison, the populations of these animals were destroyed on both continents. Already by 1920, bison disappeared from the wild, and the number american bison dwindled to a few hundred heads. Scientists sounded the alarm, and thanks to their active actions, this giant was saved. Today, about 3,200 bison live on the territory of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania. The American bison population is much larger: there are now about half a million of these animals. Such a number is due, in particular, to the fact that bison are bred on private ranches.

Although bison live mainly in reserves and sanctuaries, they are also released outside of these areas. Therefore, today in social behavior these animals have features characteristic of huge herds common in the past.

Unlike the American bison, the bison lives in wooded area so his diet is more varied.

Due to the insignificant population of bison, they cannot form large herds. Therefore, conclusions about their behavior are made on the basis of observations by scientists of the 18th and 19th centuries. after the American bison, since the way of life of this species in many ways resembles the features of the existence of the bison.

Life in the herd

Most of the year bison live in small herds. The main social unit is a group of related females and their offspring - newborn cubs and calves aged 1 to 3 years. Bulls live as hermits or small bachelor groups. This state of affairs changes during the mating season, called the rut. During this period, males join the female herds.

Usually a herd of bison consists of 10-20 heads. It is controlled by the eldest female, who is the mother and grandmother of most members of the group. The daily diet of bison should be 2-3% of their body weight, so the herd is in constant motion. They devastate pastures very quickly and often have to move to a new place. Unlike American bison, which graze in the meadows, bison seek food in the forest. All year round they feed on leaves, bark and branches, in spring their diet is replenished with tender grass and greens, and in autumn - mushrooms, acorns, nuts and fruits.

Bison have a keen sense of smell, which they need in order to recognize the presence of other animals. This is especially important for the bison, which lives in the forest.

Bison herds have very close family relationships. There are cases when bison come to the bodies of their dead relatives, as if they were visiting them. This behavior makes bison related to elephants.

herd structure

During the rut season, many herds come together. Since bison live in the forest, their common herd cannot be numerous, but American bison form herds of several thousand animals. Merging herds occurs not only in mating season, but also, for example, in spring, when bison go in search of food and water, or in autumn for joint migration. Herds living in mountainous areas can move to lowland areas by winter, while covering distances of up to 500 km. Today, such migrations are far less spectacular than they were in the days of the large population of these animals, when herds of millions of bison migrated together.

However, bison herds do not always unite. For example, in harsh winters when it is incredibly difficult to find food and every animal is fighting for survival, the herds are divided into several groups.

Cold climatic conditions not afraid of bison. With massive heads, they dig up snowdrifts, the height of which reaches half a meter, and get to grass, lichens and moss. In winter, water is usually not available, so bison eat snow. To conserve strength in the cold, the herd moves as little as possible. When snow and ice make it difficult to forage in the harshest winters, bison still decide to travel in search of food. Often this turns into disaster: every two out of three bison die, and the survivors lose a lot of strength and suffer from exhaustion. In the spring, they tend to quickly replenish their fat stores in order to get into a healthy shape during the rutting season.

Gon

Like other artiodactyls, once a year European bison have a rutting season that lasts from August to October. At this time, bulls demonstrate their superiority over each other in order to gain the right to mate with females in a fight.

Late summer, rutting season. These bulls in the prairies of South Dakota (USA) fought for the right to mate with a female. Their main weapons are strong foreheads and muscular shoulders.

The competition of males begins with a roar competition, which is heard within a radius of several kilometers and demonstrates the strength and endurance of bulls. To prove its superiority, the buffalo bows its head, beats with its hoof, raises its tail, and sometimes butts a tree. At this moment, one of the participants in the confrontation usually recognizes the strength of the opponent and retreats. However, it happens that the conflict between the males arises again, when the pair has already formed, and the bulls begin to attack each other. A strong forehead allows the buffalo to use its head as a battering ram, and the characteristic withers, formed by powerful muscles, help to hold strong blows. Violent battles of males do not last long, and sometimes rivals get seriously injured.

The rutting period for bulls is very stressful, since only the strongest male can mate with females and pass on their genes to the next generations. At this time, they eat little and lose up to 10% of body weight. The whole herd becomes much more restless and aggressive than usual, and it is during the rut that the buffalo pose the greatest danger.

That bull, which defended its superiority in battles, mates with most of the females in the herd and does not leave it for several months. At the end of the mating season, the male returns to bachelor life. Sometimes the same bull leads the battle for many years until he is defeated by a younger and stronger male. From that moment on, the defeated bison leads a solitary lifestyle.

The bull usually mates with females from the herd in September and October. A pregnant female carries a cub for 9 months and leaves the herd before giving birth. She brings one calf. It differs from adult animals in its characteristic red-brown color. After an hour or two, the calf is able to stand on its own, but the mother returns to the herd only when the baby is a few days old and can keep up with the herd. For the first few months, babies do not move far from their mother. Females fiercely protect calves, and predators do not risk approaching a female with a cub.

The coat color of these young American bison is rather dull: most calves are usually dark reddish-brown. Brown color. Babies are born in the spring, when pastures abound with food.

Youth education

Newborn calves do not have a characteristic withers. It begins to form when the baby is two months old. Calves try to nibble grass a few weeks after birth, but for another 6-8 months they feed on their mother's milk. After two or three years, young males leave the herd to form small bachelor groups. By this time, the females reach sexual maturity, but remain with the herd. Bulls complete development only by the age of five or six.

In such a strong and large animal as a bison, in wild nature few enemies. Early settlers in North America considered it the second most endangered wild animal after the grizzly bear. The European bison has an unpredictable character: a calm state during a stay on a pasture can instantly change into aggressiveness.

Zubram is not afraid of such natural enemy like a wolf. Bison have excellent hearing and smell, and although they cannot see small details, they catch any movement for half a kilometer. Despite the huge body mass, bison are surprisingly agile and mobile. An adult animal is very hardy, can run at speeds up to 50 km / h and jump over a 2-meter fence or a river of three meters wide. In the event of an attack, the bison usually butts or tramples the enemy, inflicts strong blows with its hind legs and injures with sharp horns.

The European and American bison species are descended from a hoofed ancestor that survived ice Age, which is why modern bison are resistant to cold. European species penetrated through Siberia and the Isthmus of Alaska to North America and separated into a separate species.

Most predators only attack weak members of the herd, such as newborns, old or sick animals. But in any case, predators are afraid to approach a herd of bison one by one. In the event of an attack by enemies such as a pack of wolves, the herd forms a circle, in the center of which the calves remain.

american bison

The build of the American bison is heavier than that of the bison, its withers are larger, but the body is somewhat smaller in size, and the horns are thinner. The American bison is less wary of humans. He is much louder than the bison. Communication plays a very important role in the numerous herds of American bison, which occupy larger spaces than bison.

Such differences in social organization bison and bison, obviously, explain the more massive body structure of the American species. Since the herds are predominantly large, the rivalry between the bulls is very intense. To win the battles, the male American bison must make a lot of effort.

An animal of the bison genus, a very strong and powerful representative of the fauna. bison belong to the bovid family and are similar to, they are even sometimes confused, however, these are completely two different types.

Although, they can successfully interbreed and produce viable offspring. True, such "families" can only occur in the wild, because it has not yet been possible to tame bison, domesticate them.

The appearance of this animal inspires respect even among the most inveterate skeptics. The body length of such a bull can reach 3 meters, and at the withers it is about 2 meters. The weight is over a ton.

Females, however, are more graceful, their weight fluctuates around 700 kg. Not a single photo can convey the true size and strength of the animal, because bison are considered the most large animals on the ground.

The head of the bull is large, powerful, on a strong, thick neck. Small ears, thick horns, with ends curved inward. The eyes are large, dark in color and a large, pronounced forehead.

The hair on the head, beard and chest is long and darker than on the rest of the body. Because of such wool, the animal looks even more intimidating. In addition, there is a hump on the back of the bison's neck, which makes the front of the animal huge. The back is covered with shorter hair, so it looks a little smaller.

In fact, this part is slightly less developed in the bison. If the front of the animal is painted dark brown, then the back of the body is slightly lighter. The legs are strong and strong. According to scientists, bison appeared about 5 million years ago.

Only before they were even larger, about twice. It is scary to imagine an animal about 4 meters high and more than 5 meters long, and this was the ancestor of the modern bison.

With climate change, the animal had to change too. The bison adapted to the new conditions, however, they lost a lot in size. The habitat of the animal had a more voluminous scale, for example, before these animals of North America occupied it all, but now they live only in the western and northern side of the Missouri.

Prefer areas with dense and lush vegetation. Bison are especially comfortable on the plains, meadows, woodlands, and prairies. Wood bison have become especially rare, they have gone into swampy forests, into the wilderness, but their numbers are constantly falling.

In order to restore the number of these animals, or at least stop its decline, numerous ranches are being created. It is there that bison are bred to increase the number of livestock and for commercial needs.

The nature and lifestyle of the bison

Buffalo – bright representative gregarious. Such herds can be huge, up to 20,000 individuals, where the most experienced and oldest male is the leader.

Pictured is a herd of bison

Sometimes, if there are many heads in the herd, several males can be the main ones at once. Interestingly, males and females with calves form their own, other herds. The leaders in the herd protect the bison from unexpected danger, and since this animal has excellent hearing and sense of smell (they recognize a stranger by smell at a distance of up to 3 km), it is almost impossible to take the animals by surprise.

It would seem that such a colossus should be too clumsy. But this is too dangerous a delusion, because the bull can be quite dexterous, he easily controls his powerful body - he gallops, jumps over obstacles to a height of up to 1.8 m, by the way, this fact made the Americans abandon the idea of ​​taming the bison.

In speed, it is in no way inferior to a horse. If necessary, he can overtake. It is also noteworthy that the bison are superbly kept on the water. Herds are able to swim over fairly long distances.

But it's good if the bison is calm, then he is calm, unhurried and balanced. But if this animal becomes angry, then it poses a serious danger to any enemy, and man is no exception.

He is unstoppable, furious and merciless. But not reckless. If the bison realizes that he has a more serious opponent in front of him, he does not hesitate to retreat. By the way, the feeling of nobility for this animal is also a distant concept.

There are examples of how bison not only left their relatives to be eaten by wolves, but also knocked down the poor fellow, making it easier for a pack of wolves. So, probably, the herd gets rid of weak and unhealthy individuals. The bison's voice matches his appearance mind - powerful, deaf, low, either a roar, or a lowing.

bison nutrition

This giant feeds exclusively on herbivorous food. bison herbivore. In order to feed himself, he needs up to 25 kg of grass per day.

Pictured is a bison in the pasture

It is food that makes these animals wander from place to place. When summer comes, they feed quietly on the wide northern plains, and when winter comes, they move south. Bison return to the north only in spring, when the ground is again covered with young grass.

Wandering over long distances, animals choose a path that passes near watering places. Herds of migrating animals used to be so large that it was impossible for trains and even steamboats to move when they moved.

In winter, when snow covers the ground, animals can extract dry grass even under a meter layer. First, they break snowdrifts with their hooves, and then dig holes with their snouts. Therefore, very often they have bald patches on their foreheads.

The frost itself is not terrible for bison, because their wool is thick and dense, but nutritional difficulties sometimes make themselves felt. Therefore, moss, lichens, and tree branches are used as food.

Reproduction and lifespan

Bison do not create permanent pairs, a male can have a harem of 5 females. And the mating season of these animals is quite long - from May to September.

Pictured is a bison with a female

At this time, the herd of males reunites with the herd of females, forming a single herd in which serious fights are fought for the attention of females. Two males rest their foreheads and butt heads to the bitter end. It happens that such battles end with the death of a weaker opponent. But the winner is rewarded with the love of the female.

Most often, after mating, the female does not remain in the herd, but it happens that the calf is born right in the herd. Adult bison treat the baby with tenderness and attention - they lick, protect, show interest.

The calf (and the female gives birth to one calf, very rarely two), in an hour can stand on its feet and follow the mother. Mother for him and protection, and nutrition, because he feeds on her milk.

Pictured is a bison with a calf

Kids quickly gain weight, they become playful, restless, but are always under the supervision of adult bison. Otherwise it is impossible, because at this age the calf is too easy prey for wolves. In 3-5 years, sexual maturity of young bison begins. Average duration The life of these animals is only 20-25 years.

Buffalo - this is how the inhabitants of North America used to call the bison. This powerful bull is officially recognized as both a wild and a domestic animal in three countries - Mexico, the USA and Canada.

Description of the bison

The American bison (Bison bison) belongs to the family of bovids from the order of artiodactyls and is paired with the genus Bison (buffaloes).

Appearance

The American bison would be almost indistinguishable from the bison if it were not for the low-set head and thick, tangled mane that covers the eyes and forms a characteristic shaggy beard on the chin (going down the throat). On the head and neck grow the most long hair, reaching half a meter: a slightly shorter coat covering the hump, shoulders and partly the front legs. In general, the entire front of the body (against the back) is covered with longer hair. Yu.

It is interesting! The extremely low head position, coupled with a tangled mane, gives the bison a special massiveness, although this is unnecessary with its dimensions - adult males at 2 m at the withers grow up to 3 m (from muzzle to tail), gaining about 1.2–1.3 tons of weight.

Due to the abundance of wool on a large broad-browed head, large dark eyes and narrow ears are hardly noticeable, but shortened thick horns are visible, diverging to the sides and turned inward with apices. The bison has a not quite proportional body, since its front part is more developed than the back. The scruff ends with a hump, the legs are not high, but powerful. The tail is shorter than European bison, and decorated at the end with a thick hair brush.

The coat is usually gray-brown or brown, but on the head, neck and front legs it darkens noticeably, reaching black-brown. Most of the animals are brown and light brown in color, but some bison show atypical colors.

Character and lifestyle

Since the American bison was exterminated before they were studied, it is difficult to judge its lifestyle. It is known, for example, that earlier bison cooperated in huge communities, reaching up to 20 thousand heads. Modern bison are kept in small herds, not exceeding 20–30 animals. There is evidence that bulls and cows with calves create separate groups, as they say, according to gender.

Contradictory information also comes about the herd hierarchy: some zoologists claim that the most experienced cow manages the herd, others are sure that the group is guarded by several old bulls. Bison, especially young ones, are extremely curious: every new or unfamiliar object captures their attention. Adults in every possible way protect the young, prone to outdoor games in the fresh air.

The bison has a developed sense of smell, which helps to smell the enemy at a distance of up to 2 km, and a pond - at a distance of up to 8 km. Hearing and vision are not so sharp, but they perform their role on the four. One look at a bison is enough to appreciate it potential power, which doubles when the beast is wounded or cornered.

In such a situation, the buffalo, which is not naturally vicious, quickly becomes annoyed, preferring an attack to flight. A sign of extreme excitement is a vertically raised tail and a sharp, musky smell felt from afar. Animals often use their voice - muffledly moo or grunt in different tones, especially when the herd is in motion.

How long do bison live

In the wild and on North American ranches, bison live to an average of 20–25 years.

sexual dimorphism

Even visually, females are significantly inferior to males in size, and besides, they do not have an external reproductive organ, which all bulls are endowed with. A more significant difference can be traced in the anatomy and features of the coat of the two subspecies of the American bison, described as Bison bison bison (steppe bison) and Bison bison athabascae (wood bison).

Important! The second subspecies was discovered at the end of the century before last. According to some zoologists, the wood bison is none other than a subspecies of the primitive bison (Bison priscus), which has survived to this day.

Details of the constitution and coat observed in the steppe bison:

• it is lighter and smaller (within the same age/sex range) than the wood bison;
• on a large head there is a dense “cap” of hair between the horns, and the horns themselves rarely protrude above this “cap”;
• a well-defined cape made of wool, and the color is lighter than that of the wood bison;
• the top of the hump is above the front legs, a thick beard and a pronounced mane on the throat are extended beyond the chest.

The nuances of physique and coat observed in wood bison:

• larger and heavier (within the same age and sex) than the steppe bison;
• a less powerful head, there is a bang of strands hanging over the forehead and horns protruding above it;
• little pronounced fur cape, and the wool is darker than that of the steppe bison;
• the top of the hump extends to the front legs, the beard is thin, and the mane on the throat is rudimentary.

Currently, wood bison are found only in the deaf swampy spruce forests growing in the basins of the Buffalo, Peace and Birch rivers (which flow into the Great Slave and Athabasca lakes).

Range, habitats

Several centuries ago, both subspecies of bison, the total number of which reached 60 million animals, were found almost throughout North America. Now the range, due to the senseless extermination of the species (completed by 1891), has narrowed to several regions west and north of Missouri.

It is interesting! By that time, the number of wood bison had fallen to a critical value: only 300 animals survived. west of the river Slave (south of the Great Slave Lake).

It has been established that a long time ago bison led a habitual nomadic life, going south in anticipation of cold weather and returning from there with the onset of heat. Now long-distance migrations of bison are impossible, since the boundaries of the range are limited national parks which are surrounded by farmlands. Bison choose different landscapes for living, including light forests, open prairies (hilly and flat), as well as forests that are closed to one degree or another.

American bison diet

Bison graze in the morning and evening, sometimes feeding during the day and even at night.. Steppe lean on grass, plucking up to 25 kg per day, and in winter they switch to grass rags. Forest, along with grass, diversify their diet with other vegetation:

• shoots;
• leaves;
• lichens;
• branches of trees/shrubs.

Important! Thanks to their thick wool, bison tolerate well 30-degree frosts, foraging at a snow depth of up to 1 m. Going to feed, they look for little snow areas where they scatter snow with their hooves, deepening the hole when rotating the head and muzzle (as bison do).

Once a day, the animals go to the watering hole, changing this habit only in severe frosts, when the reservoirs are frozen over and the bison have to eat snow.

Reproduction and offspring

The rut lasts from July to September, when bulls and cows are grouped into large herds with a clear hierarchy. When the breeding season comes to an end, a large herd again breaks up into scattered groups. Bison are polygamous, and dominant males are not satisfied with one female, but gather harems.

Sexual hunting in bulls is accompanied by a rolling roar, audible in clear weather for 5–8 km. The more bulls, the more impressive their chorus sounds. When arguing for females, applicants are not limited to mating serenades, but often enter into fierce fights, which periodically end in serious injuries or the death of one of the duelists.

It is interesting! Gestation takes about 9 months, after which the cow gives birth to one calf. If she does not have time to find a secluded corner, the newborn appears in the middle of the herd. In this case, all animals approach the calf, sniffing and licking it. The calf sucks fatty (up to 12%) mother's milk for almost a year.

In zoological parks, bison get along not only with representatives of their own species, but also with bison. Good-neighbourly relations often end with love mating and the appearance of small bison. The latter advantageously differ from hybrids with livestock, as they have high fecundity.

natural enemies

It is believed that there are practically no bison, if you do not take into account those who slaughter calves or very old individuals. True, the bison were threatened by the Indians, whose way of life and customs largely depended on these powerful animals. Native Americans hunted bison on horseback (sometimes in the snow), armed with a spear, bow or gun. If the horse was not used for hunting, the bison were driven into abysses or paddocks.

The tongue and the fat-rich hump were especially valued, as well as dried and chopped meat (pemmican), which the Indians stored for the winter. The skin of young bison became the material for outerwear, thick skins turned into rough rawhide and tanned leather, from which soles were cut.

The Indians tried to use all the parts and tissues of animals, getting:

• from bison skin - saddles, tipi tents and belts;
• from tendons - threads, bowstrings and more;
• from bones - knives and dishes;
• from hooves - glue;
• from hair - ropes;
• from the litter - fuel.

Important! However, until 1830, man was not the main enemy of the buffalo. The number of the species was not affected either by the hunting of the Indians, or by the single shooting of bison by white colonists who had guns.