Hey there! Did you know that the American Bison is the national mammal of the United States? You might have heard people call them buffalo, but buffalo actually live in Asia and Africa. Bison are unique and amazing animals with big humps, long horns, and furry beards. Let’s learn some cool facts about them!
When bison babies are born, they have a funny nickname: red dogs. This is because their fur is a reddish-orange color. As they grow up, their fur turns dark brown. Bison calves are quick learners, too! Just an hour after being born, they can stand up and start moving around. Over the years, these little calves grow into huge animals!
Bison are the biggest land animals in North America. The largest bison can weigh up to 900 kilograms, which is almost as much as a car! Even though they’re so big, bison can run really fast—up to 56 kilometers an hour. That’s as fast as a car driving down the street!
Bison get their energy from eating lots of plants. They have a big hump behind their heads that helps them find food in the winter. When snow covers the ground, bison use the muscles in their hump to move their heads and brush away the snow, so they can reach the plants underneath.
In the warmer months, bison have to deal with pesky insects that like to bite them. To get rid of these bugs, bison roll around in the dirt and rub their horns against trees. This makes the trees release chemicals that keep the bugs away, like a natural bug spray!
Bison have been roaming the United States for thousands of years. There used to be millions of them, but people hunted too many, and their numbers dropped. Thankfully, people realized the problem and started protecting bison on conservation lands. Now, there are about 30,000 wild bison, and many live in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
So, now you know all about the American Bison! They truly deserve to be the national mammal. If you have any questions about bison or other animals, feel free to ask a grown-up to leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
