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History
The great American bison is a truly magnificent animal. It is the largest
land mammal found in North America since the end of the Ice Age.
This so-called American Buffalo is a descendant of ancient animals
that crossed the Bering land bridge some 300,000 years ago.
Technically they are Bison, bison (genus, species). They are not buffalo, as
are the African Cape buffalo or the southeast Asian Water buffalo.
They have virtually no relatives other than the Wisent, a species
of this shaggy animal that lives in north-central Europe and of
which there are a limited number.
Before northern Europeans settled North America, there were an estimated 30-70 million
bison ranging across the continent, from Alaska to at least the
northern tier of Mexican states. The oldest herd fossils remaining
in the lower 48 states are more than 100,000 years old.
An important archaeological site in New Mexico, the Folsom Site, revolutionized
American archaeology. It was the first time that irrefutable evidence
of human tools and Ice Age animals were found together. The site
proved to be a bison kill, or bison jump, where Paleo Indians killed
and butchered 23 bison nearly 10,000 years ago.
Once the mighty herds stretched in numbers beyond the horizon. To the American Indians,
before the arrival of Europeans, these animals provided an unending
supply of food and raw material for tools, clothing and other products.
Additionally, the bison were considered spiritual beings that sustained
the spirit as well as physical life.
According to pioneer journals and scientific guesstimates, bison moved in herds
that varied from 500-animals to more than 500,000-animals. To the
early European explorers, the bison represented boundless wealth
and potential for personal profit and freedom. That great wealth
was almost completely wasted within a few decades by careless slaughter
for fun and sport, and excessively exploitative hunting of bison
for hides and tongues.
By 1889, less than 1,000 were left and those were saved by the combined efforts
of William Hornaday (Director of the Bronx Zoo) and a small group
of ranchers. In 1905, the American Bison Society was formed to save
the bison and protect rangeland for the animals. Today, those efforts
are carried on by the National Bison Association and the Canadian
Bison Association. The bison herds of today number in excess of
350,000 and are growing.
Nature of the Animal
As massive and bulky as they appear, many people are under the impression that
bison are slow and awkward. In reality, bison can outrun and easily
out-maneuver most horses. They have the agility of a deer. And if
on the run, they can easily break through seemingly adequate corrals.
Well-known and admired for their stamina, bison are lightning fast and can run
for many miles. They can sprint upwards of 40-miles per hour and
have the ability to jump straight up from a complete standstill.
Much like a mountain goat, a bison can traverse rough, rocky terrain.
At the same time, they are content on the flat prairies many call
home.
Although bison are normally quite docile and may allow people to approach them,
they can be unpredictable and may charge people or machines in the
blink of an eye. They can pivot on their hind feet as well as their
front feet and are incredibly fast.
Bison seem to thrive in many environments. They have been taken from the sub-zero
termperatures of the Dakotas in mid-winter, directly to the sub-tropical
climate of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai with no ill effects. Bison
are raised in areas ranging from the harsh climate of Kodiak Island,
Alaska to the extremely warm climates of Florida and Texas.
Bison are naturally hardy and extremely healthy. They have very few natural predators
and are known to hold their own against Kodiak bears. Their biggest
threat is disease transmission from other, non-native species, and
parasites.
Even in ranch environments, bison have retained their natural instincts for survival.
They can weather storms and help their newborn calves survive in
blizzards that would kill entire herds of cattle. Bison stand face
first into the winter winds as the wind blows their hair down. They
don't turn their hindquarters into the wind, nor do they move with
it. Their heavy winter coats provide all the protection they need
from the bitter cold.
In winter both sexes are covered with a thick, woolly coat of dark-brown hair with
longer and darker hair on their heads and forequarters. Bison can
root through deep snow cover to get to the grass below, using their
massive head like a shovel to push the snow out of the way. When
necessary, they can eat snow for water or use their muzzle or hooves
to break ice to reach water.
The heat of summer doesn't bother bison. After shedding their heavy coats in
spring, long hair remains on the animal's head, forelegs and hump.
They languish in the sun and keep their noses into the breeze. Bison
love water. They have the ability to smell water from miles away,
and are excellant swimmers.
Bison mature later than cattle and normally breed at two years of age. After
a gestation period of 280-days, bison cows produce calves. Most
calves are born in the spring as the rutting season is typically
in July and August. At birth, they weigh around 40-pounds and shortly
after birth calves are standing, nursing and able to keep up with
their mothers and the herd.
Bison calves nurse more frequently than other ruminants and they begin to eat
forage on their first day of life. They grow and develop rapidly,
typically weighing about 450 pounds by their first birthday. They
mature in 5-6-years, with cows weighing about 1,000-pounds and bulls
weighing from 1,500 to over 2,000-pounds.
Bison are very protective and operate as a group when threatened. They face into
the threat and back each other up. They are protective of their
young and will position themselves between a perceived threat and
their calves.
Bison are curious, intelligent, territorial, dignified, playful and tremendously strong.
The nature of the animal requires they be treated with respect and
caution; they are wild animals. They are not mean animals, but will
not hesitate to react if they feel threatened.
Bison are adaptable, hardy, disease-resistant and majestic. They are unique animals that
have survived near-extinction to rally back from the brink of disaster.
They offer to us those traits that have enabled them to survive.
By working with these animals, learning what makes them successful
in a variety of situations and environments, we gain much from these
creatures and ensure their continued presence in our future.
Nutrition Facts
Species |
Fat |
Calories |
Cholesterol |
Saturated Fat |
Protein |
Iron |
Bison |
2.42 g |
143 kcal |
82 mg |
0.91 g |
28.44 g |
3.42 mg |
Beef 90% lean |
11.73 g |
217 kcal |
85 mg |
4.63 g |
26.11 g |
2.71 mg |
Pork |
18.19 g |
265 kcal |
105 mg |
5.15 g |
23.55 g |
1.51 mg |
Chicken* |
3.57 g |
165 kcal |
85 mg |
1.01 g |
31.02 g |
1.04 mg |
USDA Data
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
Reference #'s 17157;23563;10803;05064
Per 100 grams cooked meat *Skinless, breast only
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