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Bison

American, Canadian, and European

Bison are the largest land mammals of North America and Europe. Bison belong to the order Artiodactyla, all hoofed animals with even number of toes, and the family Bovidae. The Bovidae family includes species such as gazelles, antelopes, mountain goats, bison and buffalo. Some domesticated species also included would be cattle, sheep, and goats. Bovids range through Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.

Buffalo species are separate from bison species. True Buffalo would be Water Buffalo of Southern Asia, and Cape buffalo of Africa. True Bison consist of North American Bison and European Bison.

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Since the European and North American Bison are so closely related some scientists believe that both species descended from an ancient relative in India. As the herd traveled north from India, some went east into Siberia, and some went west towards Europe. The Siberian herd eventually migrated over the Bering Straight that once connected Asia and North America. These herds were pre-historical looking, their massive body weight could weigh up to 5,000 pounds and they're horns could grow to be six feet wide. Today's version of the pre-historical North American herd has decreased in size due to environmental differences.

There are two North American species of bison, Bison Bison or also known as the Plains bison, and Bison Athabascae, or wood bison. Bison Bison roam the prairies of Central North America (the United States of America); they once roamed from the boarders of Canada to Mexico and as far east as Virginia and Pennsylvania, and to the western shores of Oregon. Some physical description of the Plains bison would be that both males and females have a single set of hollow, curved horns. The dark dense hairs of the bison's mange can cover the horns. Male Bison, bulls, often weigh about ,000 pounds (roughly one ton), they can stand on an average of six feet tall at the shoulders, and grow to the lengths of twelve feet long. They have a thick massive head and a large shoulder hump, which is used for energy-rich fats. The female bison, cows, are three-quarters the size of a full-grown bull. Another distinctive descriptions of the Plains bison are the long black hairs that form a long beard. Despite their great size and bulkiness, bison can sprint at speeds of 0 miles per hour. Their hooves are also sharp which open up the soil to natural aeration and filtration. This leaves plant roots behind for regeneration (cattle have flat hooves which will compact the soil).

Bison Athabascae or Wood bison once lived in Northern Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. They have a longer body frame, longer legs, and wider hooves, for more agile walking on mountain areas and walking on top of deep snow. They also have a denser, darker coat. Their coats are darker so they can absorb the sunlight. These Bison will go under lower hanging snow covered branches and use the branches as a blanket to trap a small warm air pocket. They can also run over twenty-five miles per hour and jump across a ten-foot wide stream and a six feet tall fence from a standing position.

The European Bison, Bison Bonasus, or also known as Wisent, once roamed the great temperate deciduous forest that stretched from the British Isles through most of Europe and western area of Siberia. The bulls can be five feet tall and weigh up to ,000 pounds. Their coat is one continuous golden brown color. A thick shaggy mane covers the head and neck. Horns are longer, curve-upwards and slightly forward. This species can also jump a ten-foot wide river and jump six feet over a fence from a standing position. The Wisent is more closely related to the Wood bison from Canada, rather than the Plains bison.

All three species are extremely similar with only differences of their description do to their environment around them and their geographical differences. All three bison species have similar life cycles, diseases, and history.

Bison will shed twice a year in the spring and fall; when shedding the only hair which remains are the forelegs, the shoulder hump, and the head. At this time they can become very vulnerable to insects. So bison will often wallow in marshes or dust bowls.

Most bison live in mixed herds of cows, calves, yearlings, and a few older bulls. The mature bulls are often loners most of the time. They will only become part of the herd during the mating season. Mating season is from July to mid-August. Bulls will begin to bellow and loner bulls will fight for herd of females. So many bull -fights will occur during mating season. The bulls lower their heads and ram each other's skull with full force. The fighting only stop until one bull is injured or has given up. A cow's gestation is about 85 days. They can give birth anytime between next spring and early fall. More often a single calf is born, although there are records of twins being born as well. The baby calf can weigh about thirty to sixty pounds at birth. They must learn to walk within a few minutes and are weaned at seven to twelve months. Both males and females reach sexual maturity at two to four years of age. Females can produce litters between ages of three to thirteen years old. Females will only breed twice every three years. Once a male has become sexually mature (sometimes at the age of three years old) he will go off on his won in search for their own female herd. Females will stay with the herd for life. Very few will venture off to another herd. Bison have a longevity of living up to forty years old, but most out in the wild will live up to twenty-five years old, and captive bison will live about thirty years old.

Bison can be prone to diseases. Although disease aren't their primary vector for their endangerment in the wild. Bison have a very well developed immunity to most Bovine diseases, but tuberculosis and brucellos are two common diseases seen in bison. Brucellos is more often of the two. Brucellos is a bacterial infection, caused by inbreeding the species too often. It attacks the reproductive system of the bulls and there is no cure for this disease. Bison that have become infected can live for one to two years, but most will die in a shorter period of time. The disease has not been scientifically proven to be easily transmittable from bison to cattle, but many farmers fear that their herd will become contaminated if a bison walks on their land. Farmers are ordering privet owners and government land owners to keep their bison away from their farmland, or drastic measures will be taken. Many bison are being destroyed due to this disease, the Wisent are extremely susceptible. Their numbers are quickly diminishing. The species only exist in protected private property. They have become extinct in the wild.

Bison are also hunted down; Grizzly bears, black bears, gray wolves and cougars have been known to prey on Bison. Grizzly bears and cougars could attack a full-grown bison, but it would take a lot of energy to do so. Wolves are dangerous to the young, sick, and old. A bison in its prime would usually be a match for a wolf. However the biggest threat to all Bison species is man.

By the time America's earliest pioneers, about 0,000 years ago had established villages the bison dominated the rolling grasslands and forested hillsides. Researchers estimated that the prairie alone numbered between 0 million and 00million bison. While the woodland bison population existed in much smaller numbers. During these times Native Americans would use bison to their advantage. They used the bison as food, shelter, and considered the bison a spiritual creature that represented the symbol of strength and determination. The Native Americans used many strategically techniques, by surrounding small herds with a human chain, giving archers a better shot at more tightly packed animals. Others learned to stampede bison over cliffs called "buffalo jumps". Often killing fifty to sixty bison at a time. Flesh and skin weren't the only advantages of bison. The tribes learned to use every part of the animal from the horns to the tail.

The Plains bison was severely effected by the mass destruction of numbers. The arrival of the early European settlers and professional "buffalo hunters" drove the bison to near extinction. A conflict arose between white settlers and Native Americans. Many people believe that the reason behind the destruction of the bison would send the Native Americans away as well. One congressman, James Throckmorton of Texas believed that, "it would be a great step forward in the civilization of the Indians, if there was not a buffalo in existence." So the destruction of one species would result in the destruction of another. By 1870, hundreds of thousands of bison were being shipped every year; more than one and a half million bison were packed aboard trains and wagons in the winter of 187-7 alone. There were even "buffalo killing contests"; a man in Kansas set a record by killing 10 bison in just 40 minutes. Men like 'Buffalo' Bill Cody were hired to slaughter animals, Buffalo bill alone killed more than four thousand bison in two years. Even train companies offered tourists the chance to shoot bison from the windows of their coach as they road past a herd of bison. By 1880s the slaughter was almost over, their numbers began to dwindle. Both the northern and southern herds had been destroyed. Less than 00 wild animals remained in the United States. Conservation of the bison came slow; in 184 Congress decided a law making bison hunting in Yellowstone National Park illegal. Today Yellowstone holds the most populated bison in the United States, holding more than 5,000 bison. Thousands of bison also inhabit the National Bison Refuge in the Flathead Valley of Montana, the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma, the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in northern Nebraska, and Walnut Creek National Wildlife Park in central Iowa. Many other private herds have boosted the bison's overall population over the years. About 00,000 bison overall in the United States as of 18.

Herds of Wood bison today are found in Alberta, Manitoba, and Yukon Territories of Canada, population of about 15,000 bison. The largest concentration of European bison live in Poland's Bialoweiza National Park, consisting of about two thousand bison.

To the Native Americans the bison is still a highly sacred animal. In fact the most sacred bison to the Native Americans ever is the White Bison. This bison is not albino; the calf coat is born white. The first white buffalo calf recorded was in 1. The calf is extremely important to the religious beliefs of many American Indian tribes, like the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota, collectively known as the Sioux. They are considered primary spiritual guardians. The native Americans believe that, "two thousand years ago a young woman who first appeared in the shape of a white buffalo gave the Lakota' ancestors a sacred pipe and sacred ceremonies and made the guardians of the Black Hills (of South Dakota). Before leaving, she also prophesized that one day she would return to purify the world, bringing back spiritual balance and harmony." The birth of Miracle, a white bison calf born August 14 was considered a sign that the young woman would appear. Miracle, unlike any other white buffalo before her, was unique. She was the first female white bison born in over 00 years. The chance of a white bison being born today is one to every 15,000 bison. The calf was born on a privately owned ranch that belonged to the Heider's from Wisconsin. Her place in the prophecies and beliefs of many tribes make her a highly sacred animal symbol. However her coat has become darker and she is not as white as she once was. The Native American tribe, the Lakota's, claim that the white bison would change their colors four times, which signifies the colors of the four peoples she would unify black, red, yellow, and white. Miracle is a symbol of hope and renewal for humanity and for harmony between all people, and races in our world today.

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