Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American bison, B. bison, found only in North America, is the more numerous. Although colloquially referred to as a buffalo in the United States and Canada, [2] it is only distantly related to the true buffalo.
Bison, either of two species of oxlike grazing mammals that constitute the genus Bison. Hunting drastically reduced the populations of the American bison (B. bison), or buffalo, and the European bison (B. bonasus), or wisent, and now these animals occupy only small fractions of their former ranges.
What makes Yellowstone's bison so special is that they're the pure descendants (free of cattle genes) of early bison that roamed our country's grasslands. As of July 2015, Yellowstone's bison population was estimated at 4,900—making it the largest bison population on public lands.
Bison represent exactly this principle: early protection combined with public access creates the conditions for species recovery and stewardship for future generations. In this guide, we explore 10 fascinating facts about bison and why their story matters to all of us.
Learn key facts about bison, why they are vital to the Northern Great Plains, and how WWF is helping restore large, healthy herds.
Bison are huge, powerful, aggressive bovine mammals with solid muscular heads and necks which are covered with brown shaggy fur. They use their very strong heads to shove and head-butt each other to win females during breeding season.
Bison are large, social bovids (cattle relatives) adapted to grazing, characterized by a prominent shoulder hump, massive head and forequarters, and (in many populations) dense, shaggy coats. The genus includes two extant species (American and European bison) and multiple extinct Ice Age forms.