American Bison
Bison bison
Conservation Status
VulnerableMammalia · Artiodactyla · Bovidae
About
The American bison, commonly known as the American buffalo, or simply buffalo, is a species of bison that is endemic to North America. It is one of two extant species of bison, along with the European bison. Its historical range circa 9000 BC is referred to as the great bison belt, a tract of rich grassland spanning from Alaska south to the Gulf of Mexico, and east to the Atlantic Seaboard, as far north as New York, south to Georgia, and according to some sources, further south to northern Florida, with sightings in North Carolina near Buffalo Ford on the Catawba River as late as 1750.
Fun Fact
American bison can run at 56 km/h (35 mph), jump 1.8 metres (6 ft) vertically, and once numbered 30–60 million before being reduced to just 541 individuals by 1889.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Grasslands and prairies
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
- Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Invasive Species
- Overgrazing