Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The North American Bison
United States of America National Mammal
| | Unity ★ Resilience ★ Healthy | |
Joining the bald eagle as a national symbol, the American bison recently became the United States' first national mammal. To honor such an iconic and resilient species, Congress passed the National Bison Legacy Act on April 28, 2016 making the bison a U.S. symbol of unity, resilience, and healthy landscapes and communities. The Act recognizes the historical, cultural, and economical importance of bison.
Plains Bison
Shorter neck
More rounded hump
Smaller and stockier
Chaps of long hair on forelegs
Cape is usually lighter in color
In Summer, cape forms distinct boundary with the rest of body
Frizzy hair on head
Larger more rounder beard
Wood Bison
Largest native land mammal in North America
Taller and squarer hump
Darker in color
Generally taller and larger
Little or no chap hair on forelegs
Cape usually does not form distinct boundary with the rest of body
Long straight hair/ sloping down forehead
Smaller more pointed head
Bison Facts
Population: Estimated 545,000
Height: 6 - 61/2 feet at the shoulder
Length: 10 - 12 1-2 feet
Weight: 900 -2,000 lbs
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Vertical Jump: 6 feet
Running Speed: 35 - 40 mph
Lifespan:: 18 - 22 years wild; 30 years captivity
Mating Season: June - September
Gestation: 270 - 285 days; Calves are born April/May
Litter Size: 1 Calf
Erected by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical date for this entry is April 28, 2016.
Location. 39° 35.433′ N, 77° 25.692′ W. Marker is in Thurmont, Maryland, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Catoctin Furnace Road 0.6 miles north of Kellys Store Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13019E Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont MD 21788, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
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Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
