American bison

(Bison bison)

Conservation Status
American bison
Photo by Wayne Rasmussen
  IUCN Red List

NT - Near Threatened

 
  NatureServe

N4 - Apparently Secure

SX - Presumed Extirpated

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total height: 5 to 6

Total length: 10 to 12

Weight: 800 to 2,000 lbs.

 
     
 

Sign

 
 

 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  No similar species  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Historically: grasslands, meadows, woodlands, and woodland openings.

Currently: none, considered extirpated in the wild

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Lifespan

 
 

15 years in the wild, 25 years in captivity

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Grasses

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 
Distribution Map  

Sources

7, 15, 24, 29, 76.

The map on the left shows where there are bison herds in Minnesota today.

The map on the right shows where bison bones have been found in the state.

  Distribution Map
3/8/2021       3/8/2021
 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Reintroduced. Captive herds.

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Mammalia (mammals)  
  Subclass Theria  
  Infraclass Eutheria (placental mammals)  
  Magnorder Boreoeutheria  
  Superorder Laurasiatheria (ungulates, carnivorans, and allies)  
  Order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans)  
  Suborder Ruminantia (ruminants)  
  Infraorder Pecora  
 

Family

Bovidae (antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, bovids)  
 

Subfamily

Bovinae (bovines)  
 

Genus

Bison (bison)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

plains bison (Bison bison bison)

Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Bison americanus

Bison americanus pennsylvanicus

Bison bison septemtrionalis

Bison sylvestris

Bos bison

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

American bison

bison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this mammal.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
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Wayne Rasmussen

 
    American bison      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Bison
DianesDigitals
 
  Bison  
 
About

Copyright DianesDigitals

 
  Bison bison (Buffalo)
Allen Chartier
 
  Bison bison (Buffalo)  
  Bison
jt893x
 
  Bison  
  Bison
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Bison  
 
About

Bison, aka Buffalo, in various national and state parks

 
     
 
Slideshows
 
  Bison
DianesDigitals
 
  Bison  
 
About

Copyright DianesDigitals

 
  Bison bison (Buffalo)
Allen Chartier
 
  Bison bison (Buffalo)  
  Bison
jt893x
 
  Bison  
  Bison
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Bison  
 
About

Bison, aka Buffalo, in various national and state parks

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this mammal.

 
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Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Finding Minnesota: Minneopa Bison At Minnesota State Park
WCCO - CBS Minnesota
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 10, 2016

When our ancestors first came to this land, it's estimated that between 30 and 60 million bison were roaming North America. There's now an effort by the DNR and others to bring the animals back, John Lauritsen reports. WCCO 4 News Weekends - Jan. 10, 2016

   
  Bringing Home the Bison – Minneopa State Park
MinnesotaDNR
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 29, 2015

Eleven genetically rare bison are reintroduced to Minneopa State Park. A joint effort between the DNR and the Minnesota Zoo.

   
  Bison Release, Belwin Conservancy, June 15, 2013, Lakeland, MN
call0031
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 16, 2013

Bison Release, Belwin Conservancy, June 15, 2013, Lakeland, MN. Video by Kevin Callahan.

   
  New bison calves, at Blue Mounds State Park!
MinnesotaDNR
 
   
 
About

Published on May 15, 2012

New bison calves have been born on the Minnesota prairie at Blue Mounds State Park. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/blue_mounds

   
  Minnesota Zoo Welcomes Two Bison Calves as Part of Partnership with DNR
Minnesota Zoo
 
   
 
About

Published on May 16, 2013

The Minnesota Zoo is excited to welcome two genetically-pure bison calves, important births signifying the progress of a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an effort to conserve the North American plains bison. They are the first bison calves born at the Zoo in 20 years.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this mammal.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/21/2008

Location: Oxbow Co Park & Zoo, Olmstead County

American bison

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


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