Bison aren't serious all the time. Young bison are thought to play. Play is manifested by seemingly purposeless frolicking, including chasing, battling, butting, kicking, and racing. Such activity aids muscle development and coordination important later in life.
Although bison have keen sense of smell, their eyesight is poor. They maintain contact with one another by uttering hog-like grunts. Bison are ordinarily mild-mannered, even dull, animals but can be aggressive. Threat postures, which may be a prelude to fighting, include a snort or a growling, guttural bellow with head up, mouth wide open, and tail erect. Heed these warnings!
For your safety, when visiting a bison herd, please observe the following rules:
- Rule #1: Stay in your car!
- Rule #2: Stay in your car! Bison are fast - they can go from 0 to Oops! (up to 35mph) faster than you can say it! If they're blocking the road, wait. Though they may be big and fuzzy, bison are essentially wild animals and are not cuddly.
- Rule #3: Stay in your car!
More About Bison
A Historical Perspective
Great herds of bison once roamed North America between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains.
Origin of the Tallgrass Herd
The Tallgrass Prairie bison herd was started with 300 animals donated by the Ken-Ada Ranch.
Tallgrass Bison Herd Size
The original herd of 300 bison at Tallgrass Prairie Preserve has grown to the optimum over-wintered size of about 2,100, which is based on the available range.
Bison Vital Statistics
Bison can weigh as much as 2000 pounds, stand over six feet tall and live as long a 40 years.
Bison are grazers who prefer grasses to other prairie plants, such as wildflowers.