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The website maintained by Lester L. Laminack.

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The American bison is a large hoofed mammal (or ungulate) that inhabits the plains of the United States and Canada.

Though sometimes called a buffalo, the American bison is not related to the water buffalo or the African buffalo, which are the only true buffaloes in the world. The American bison is more closely related to cows and goats.

Male bison are slightly larger than females. But both the male and female bison have a sizeable head with small curved horns and a scraggly beard.

Diet

Bison are herbivores, feeding on the grasses of the prairie land all year round. They will generally rest during the day and graze in the mornings and evenings. Bison also need to find water every day.

Predators

Although bison have few natural predators because of their size, wolves, mountain lions and bears do attack the very young or very old bison. In some areas, people legally hunt bison or raise them for their meat and hides. There are, however, some protected herds that reside in national parks and reserves.

Reproduction

During the mating season (June to September), male bison will use their large heads to butt each other in attempts to gain the attention of females. In April or May of the following year, the female gives birth to a single calf.

Newborn calves have a reddish, light brown coat and lack the distinctive hump of the adult bison. They begin turning brown and developing the hump after a few months.

Calves are nursed for up to 8 months and are fully independent by 1 year of age. Male bison do not participate in the upbringing of the calves.

Conservation Status

The American bison was once the symbol of the Great Plains. Vast herds roamed from Canada to Mexico providing food, clothing, and tools to the native people. From a population that numbered in the millions, American bison dwindled to near extinction, driven there by American settlers.

Although an ongoing conservation program has resulted in modest increases in their population, the American bison is currently classified as near threatened by IUCN's Red List.

What You Can Do to Help

You can help in their preservation by adopting a bison via the Defenders of Wildlife or donating toward the purchase of prairie land for reserves at the American Prairie Foundation.

American Bison Range / Habitat

Other American Bison Resources

More Bison Stuff from Animal Fact Guide

Blog Posts about the American Bison

About the Author

P.A. Smith is a middle school Language Arts teacher. He is also a contributing editor of My House Rabbit.

Last updated on August 24, 2014.

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The American bison is a large hoofed mammal (or ungulate) that inhabits the plains of the United States and Canada. Though sometimes called a buffalo, the American bison is not related to the water buffalo or the African buffalo, which are the only true buffaloes in the world.

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Website: Provides a variety of information about the author - biography, additional books, etc.

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Tracey Fern - Author of Children's Historical books and magazine articles. Howard and the Mummy, Wild Horse Annie, Buffalo Music, Pippo the Fool, Barnum's Bones, W is for Webster, and Dare the Wind.

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President Obama signed a law on Monday declaring the bison as America's national mammal. For those bald eagle fans, don't worry! The bald eagle remains the national animal (and national bird) of the United States.

The new law, called the National Bison Legacy Act, creates an additional designation for a special native mammal in America. Animals are classified as mammals when:

they are warm blooded vertebrates

they possess hair or fur, and

they nourish their young with milk produced by mammary glands

The bison is an excellent choice for the honor of national mammal. Bison once numbered in the millions in the United States. Their range stretched from Canada to Mexico.

Many Native American tribes relied heavily on bison as a source of food and clothing, and they considered it of great spiritual significance. When white settlers spread into the Great Plains, they decimated the bison population, and the bison nearly went extinct.

Due to conservationist efforts starting in the early 20th century, the bison was saved from extinction. But they are still classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. You can help in their preservation by adopting a bison via the Defenders of Wildlife or donating toward the purchase of prairie land for reserves at the American Prairie Foundation.

To learn more about bison, see our American bison facts article.

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Bison Officially Named America's National Mammal

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President Obama signed a law on Monday declaring the bison as America's national mammal. For those bald eagle fans, don't worry! The bald eagle remains the national animal (and national bird) of the United States. The new law, called the National Bison Legacy Act, creates an additional designation for a special native mammal in America.

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The official site of Lauren Castillo, author and illustrator of children's literature.

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Guide to Creating Text Dependent Questions for Close Reading Lessons

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Guide to Creating Text Dependent Questions for Close Reading Lessons

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Before white settlers began to push into the vast west in any great numbers, an estimated 50-60 million buffalo freely roamed upon the Great Plains.

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Lester Laminack

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Lester L. Laminack's The Ultimate Read-Aloud Resource. Please type the last word of the quotation that opens Chapter 5.