Bison are large, herbivorous mammals that belong to the Bovidae family. ¹⁾

They are also commonly known as American bison, buffalo, or simply bison. ²⁾

The bison is the largest land animal in North America, with males weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg) and standing up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder. ³⁾

They were once the dominant grazers on the Great Plains of North America, with an estimated population of up to 60 million before European settlement. ⁴⁾

Bison have a hump on their back, which is made of muscle and helps support their massive head. ⁵⁾

They are very social animals and live in large herds, with females and their offspring forming the core of the herd, while males live in smaller groups or alone. ⁶⁾

Bison have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell. ⁷⁾

They have a shaggy, dark brown coat in the winter that helps insulate them from the cold and sheds a lighter color in the summer. ⁸⁾

Bison have a life expectancy of around 20 years in the wild. ⁹⁾

They are very strong and can run up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). ¹⁰⁾

Bison can jump up to six feet (1.8 meters) vertically from a standing position. ¹¹⁾

They have a distinctive huffing noise that they make when communicating with each other. ¹²⁾

Bison are excellent swimmers and can cross rivers and lakes when needed. ¹³⁾

They have a unique digestive system that allows them to extract nutrients from tough, fibrous plant material. ¹⁴⁾

Bison were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s, with only a few hundred remaining, but conservation efforts have helped their population recover to around 500,000 today. ¹⁵⁾