BIOMES KEY

Animal List

American Bison

Bison bison

General Information The American bison used to be found on prairies in western Canada and the United States. Today it is found in protected places such as parks and reserves throughout North America. The American bison mainly eats grass, leaves, bark, and twigs of trees or shrubs. The life span of the American bison is 20 years in the wild and up to 40 years in captivity. The American bison has a hump on its shoulders. The American bison can grow to be 5 to 6 feet tall, with a length of 7 to 11 feet. Also, males can weigh up to 2,200 lbs. and females up to 1,320 lbs.

Adaptations The bison has a thick brown fur coat which helps it to keep warm in the severe winters of the plains. It sheds this coat in the spring to form a lighter coat for warmer weather.

Video/Virtual Reality/Photograph

Food Web

Environmental Change The population of the American bison started to decrease by World War II when they were needed as food. The building of railroads blocked the bisons' migration routes in the mid -19th century. The demand for bison hides, meat, and bones almost made the bison extinct.

References "American Bison". CD-ROM Compton's Encyclopedia. 1995. "American Bison". CD-ROM Encarta. 1995. "American Bison". CD-ROM Groliers Encyclopedia. 1995. "American Bison". The World Book Encyclopedia. 1995 ed. Johnathon, Elphic, ed. Atlas of Animal Migration. New York: John Day Co., 1972. Parker, Bertha Morris, ed. The Golden book Encyclopedia. New York: Golden Press, 1959. The Marvels of Animal Behavior. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1972.