Bison

Anatomy of a Land Titan

A mature bison is an impressive creature. Bulls can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand over six feet tall at the shoulder, while cows typically weigh between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Their immense forequarters are supported by a muscular hump, allowing them to power through deep snow, push aside dense underbrush, or dig beneath snow for grasses with their heads—a behavior known as “snowplowing.” Their fur is thick, shaggy, and layered—perfect insulation against brutal winters. In summer, they shed this heavy coat in great tufts, often leaving behind woolly patches snagged on tree branches or blowing across the prairie. Their curved horns, present in both sexes, serve as tools for defense, dominance, and digging, and their eyes—dark and intelligent—betray a surprising awareness and calm. Despite their bulk, bison are incredibly agile. They can run at speeds approaching 35 miles per hour, pivot on a dime, and leap nearly six feet vertically. This combination of speed, strength, and stamina makes them well-suited to life on the plains and helps them evade predators such as wolves and bears.

The Landscape They Shaped

Bison are not merely residents of the grasslands—they are engineers of the ecosystem. Their constant grazing patterns influence plant diversity, encourage the growth of certain grasses, and prevent the encroachment of woody plants. As they move across the land, bison disturb the soil with their hooves, aerating it and creating wallows—shallow depressions where they roll and bathe in dust. These wallows become microhabitats for insects, amphibians, and unique prairie plants.

Moreover, their dung nourishes the soil and supports a wide web of decomposers and seed dispersers. Birds often follow bison herds, feeding on insects stirred up by their passage. Entire ecosystems once revolved around their predictable migrations, forming symbiotic relationships that persisted for millennia. Before European settlement, the North American bison population is estimated to have been between 30 and 60 million animals, ranging from Alaska to northern Mexico. Their thundering herds were visible from miles away, shaping both the ecology and the cultures of the Indigenous peoples who lived alongside them.

Life in the Herd

Bison are deeply social animals and live in herds that shift in size and composition throughout the year. Cows and calves typically form maternal groups, while bulls may roam alone or form bachelor herds outside of the breeding season. These groupings offer safety in numbers and allow bison to collectively respond to threats or environmental changes.

Communication is constant within the herd—bison bellow, grunt, snort, and even use body language to assert dominance, alert others to danger, or comfort their young. The breeding season, known as the rut, occurs in mid to late summer. During this time, bulls compete for access to females through posturing, displays of strength, and, occasionally, fierce clashes of horn and muscle.

Gestation lasts around 285 days, and calves—born in spring—can stand and walk within an hour of birth. Their reddish coats, which earn them the nickname “red dogs,” help them blend into the sunlit grasses, and they remain close to their mothers for protection and nourishment. Bison live on average 12 to 20 years in the wild, depending on predation, environmental conditions, and disease exposure. In protected areas and managed herds, some individuals have lived past 25 years.

A Shared History with Humans

For countless generations, the bison was central to the lives of Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains. Tribes such as the Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, and Comanche relied on bison not just for food, but for shelter, tools, clothing, and spiritual guidance. Every part of the animal was used with purpose: hides for tipis and robes, bones for tools and weapons, sinew for bowstrings, and even bladders for water storage.

The bison hunt was a sacred act, conducted with ceremony and respect. Tribal economies and migration patterns followed the movements of the herds, and the animal featured prominently in songs, dances, stories, and cosmology. The relationship between bison and Plains peoples was one of deep interdependence—both literal and symbolic.

Tragically, the arrival of European settlers and industrial expansion in the 19th century brought a deliberate and devastating collapse. The U.S. government, in an effort to weaken Native resistance and open the land for cattle and railroads, supported the mass slaughter of bison. From tens of millions, the population was reduced to fewer than 1,000 by the 1880s.

The Brink of Extinction—and the Slow Road Back

By the late 19th century, the bison’s existence hung by a thread. Only a handful of wild individuals remained in remote pockets of Yellowstone National Park and private ranches. Conservationists, ranchers, and Indigenous groups began working—sometimes independently, sometimes together—to save the species from extinction. Thanks to early efforts by figures such as William Hornaday, Charles Goodnight, and the American Bison Society, bison herds were reestablished in national parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves across the continent. Today, there are approximately 500,000 bison in North America, though most live on private lands as livestock or hybrids bred with domestic cattle. Fewer than 30,000 are considered truly wild and free-ranging. Yellowstone remains home to the largest continuous population of wild bison in the United States, with herds also thriving in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, Badlands National Park, and the plains of Montana and South Dakota.

The Cultural Comeback

As bison numbers slowly recovered, so too did their cultural significance. In recent decades, Indigenous communities across North America have spearheaded efforts to return bison to tribal lands. These movements—often rooted in healing, sovereignty, and ecological restoration—recognize the profound role bison play in cultural revitalization and food security. Organizations such as the InterTribal Buffalo Council and the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance have helped reintroduce herds to dozens of tribal nations, combining traditional knowledge with modern science to restore both land and lifeways. In 2016, the United States officially named the American bison its national mammal, recognizing the species’ ecological, cultural, and historical importance. This designation marked not just a symbolic gesture but an affirmation of the bison’s enduring role in shaping the American identity.

Bison in the Modern Landscape

Today, bison occupy a unique space in agriculture, conservation, and tourism. On ranches, bison are raised for lean, protein-rich meat that is gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers. Unlike cattle, bison are well-suited to rotational grazing systems that promote soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Ecotourism is also flourishing, as visitors flock to national parks and preserves to witness these awe-inspiring animals in their natural element. Few experiences rival the sight of a bison herd silhouetted against a setting sun, dust rising in the distance, the ground trembling beneath their hooves. Yet bison also face modern challenges—fences that restrict their migratory instincts, conflicts with cattle ranchers over disease transmission (particularly brucellosis), and debates over how “wild” a species can be when its movement is constrained by politics and property lines. Balancing their ecological needs with land use and economic interests remains a nuanced and ongoing task.

Ecological Allies and Future Possibilities

Beyond their cultural and economic value, bison are gaining renewed recognition for their role as keystone species. Studies show that reintroducing bison to grassland ecosystems increases plant diversity, boosts pollinator populations, and enhances soil function. In areas once degraded by overgrazing or monoculture farming, bison are now helping regenerate native prairie. Some scientists and conservationists advocate for even broader efforts—so-called “rewilding” initiatives—where large herds of bison could roam freely across vast landscapes, restoring the dynamic relationships that once defined the North American heartland. Though ambitious, such visions are not without precedent, and they continue to inspire new generations of environmental stewards. Climate change may further increase the bison’s importance. Their resilience to drought, ability to graze efficiently, and compatibility with regenerative agriculture make them promising allies in creating more sustainable food systems and carbon-rich soils.

The Spirit of the Plains

There is something timeless about the bison—something ancient, noble, and deeply American. From their shaggy heads to their thunderous hooves, they carry the weight of history and the promise of renewal. They are not relics of the past, but living embodiments of wildness, community, and resilience. To see a bison today is to witness survival against overwhelming odds. It is to be reminded of the power of nature, the complexity of ecosystems, and the enduring connection between humans and the land. Whether grazing quietly in a distant valley or staring you down from a field’s edge, the bison is not just a beast of the plains—it is the pulse of a continent.