American bison

The giant that came back to the prairie

The bison is the biggest animal in America — it weighs 1 tonne! Once, 30 million bison roamed the prairies — a herd took days to pass by. Then people nearly wiped them out — only 1,000 were left. Today there are 500,000 bison. A bison isn't afraid of the cold: in a blizzard it stands facing the wind.

The American bison (Bison bison) is North America's largest land animal (1.8 m, 1,000 kg). In the early 1800s, 30–60 million bison were the foundation of the Great Plains ecosystem and central to Native American life. By the 1880s, commercial hunting and policy had left fewer than 1,000 — one of the fastest exterminations in history. It recovered thanks to the Yellowstone herd (23 animals) and private ranches; today there are 500,000 (31,000 wild). In 2016 it was named the national mammal of the USA. Despite its bulk it runs at 55 km/h and clears a 1.8 m fence. Its dust-wallowing benefits prairie plants.

Fun facts

• A bison weighs a tonne but can jump a 1.8 m fence.
• In 1800 there were 30 million bison; in 1880, 1,000. Today, 500,000.
• In a blizzard a bison faces the wind — its thick mane protects it.