[Bison bison]
Habitat: Great Plains
Length: 6.8′ to 10′
Height: 5′ to 6.5′
Weight: 770 – 2204 lbs
Average Lifespan: 20 years
Gestation Period: 270 to 285 days
Number of Young: 1
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
– Also known as the American buffalo
– Mature males usually move about alone, or in small bachelor groups
– Adult females live with their young in a hierarchical herd, led by a dominant female
– Males fight fiercely for the right to mate, which usually involves head-to-head ramming
– Able to run at speeds up to 37 miles per hour
– Eyesight is poor, but sense of smell and hearing are acute
– Once had the widest natural range of any North American herbivore, extending from Mexico to Alaska