American Bison: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Horns and Trunks · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Bison look slow, but they have been seen running at 65 to 70 km/h. In Yellowstone's Hayden Valley they walk about 3 km a day on average.
2. Wild bison can weigh up to 1,270 kg, making them North America's heaviest plant-eater. Among wild cattle, only Asia's gaur beats the wood bison.
3. In the mating season, dominant bulls keep a small group of females. Both males and females have short, curved horns up to 60 cm long.
4. Bison eat mostly grasses and sedges, and every single day they drink water or eat snow.
5. Long ago, bison roamed a grassy belt from Alaska down to the Gulf of Mexico. Some were still seen in North Carolina as late as 1750.

The quiz

1. How fast have bison been seen running?

• About 12 km/h
• About 25 km/h
• 65 to 70 km/h (correct)
• About 150 km/h

Bison have been seen running at 65 to 70 km/h.

2. Which wild cattle species is the only one bigger than the wood bison?

• The gaur of Asia (correct)
• The muskox
• The water buffalo
• The yak

Among wild cattle, only Asia's gaur beats the wood bison.

3. How long can a bison's horns grow?

• Up to 6 cm
• Up to 20 cm
• Up to 90 cm
• Up to 60 cm (correct)

Bison have short, curved horns up to 60 cm long.

4. What does a bison do every day besides eating plants?

• Drink water or eat snow (correct)
• Climb a tree
• Dig a burrow
• Swim in the sea

Every day, bison drink water or eat snow.

5. Where were bison sightings still recorded as late as 1750?

• Florida
• North Carolina (correct)
• Maine
• Texas

Bison were still seen in North Carolina as late as 1750.

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