American Bison

American Bison. Bison bison.

Size: up to 12.5 feet in length[;] up to 6.5 feet at the shoulders , Weight: up to 2,500 lbs[;] males larger than females , Lifespan: 15-20 years in the wild[;] up to 40 years in captivity , Habitat: grasslands , Diet: grasses, when food is scarce will grace on other vegetation such as sagebrush , Status: Near Threatened

, Fun Facts , A male bison's bellow can be heard up to three miles away., Bison formerly roamed parts of New England., Bison calves can weigh up to 66 lbs at birth and may reach a whopping 425 lbs by the age of 6 months., bison can leap more than seven feet high., Bison can run at speeds of 40 miles per hour., Bison were hunted to near extinction by settlers for sport, hides and meat and to destroy the food supply of Native Americans. The American bison population is estimated to have been between 30 and 60 million in 1830., By 1889, the vast herds that once roamed the prairies of the United States had been reduced to fewer than 1,000 animals. Between 1898 and 1901 the Yellowstone herd was reduced from 200 to 25 bison. Conservation efforts were initiated by the Bronx Zoo and President Theodore Roosevelt, who established the American Bison Society. The North American population is now estimated at 20,000 in the wild and 200,000 in captivity including zoos and private ownership.