To celebrate National American Bison Day, which takes place on the first Saturday in November every year, here are five cool facts about bison:
1. Though often called a buffalo, the American bison is not a true buffalo.
The only true buffaloes in the world are the water buffalo and the African buffalo. American bison are not closely related to either of those. Instead, they are large ungulates (hoofed mammals) that live in the plains of North America.
Still, the name ‘buffalo’ is commonly used when referring to American bison and is typically accepted.
2. Both male and female bison have beards.
Yes, both male and female bison have long, scraggly hair on their chins and necks. They both also have horns! You can tell male and female bison apart by their size. Male bison are larger than females, weighing up to 900 kg (2000 lb.)!
3. Baby bison don’t have humpbacks.
Newborn bison lack the distinctive hump of the adult bison. They begin developing the hump after a few months.
4. American bison are pretty fast!
Although they are the largest land mammal in North America, American bison are surprisingly speedy. They can run up to 56 km/h (35 mph).
5. You can tell a bison’s mood by its tail.
When a bison’s tail is down, they are calm. But if you see their tail up, watch out! They are about to charge.
Hope you enjoyed our roundup of fun bison facts! To learn more about bison, see our article, American Bison.
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