The American Bison

article and photos by Rose Collison

This animal’s true name is the American bison, but most people call them buffalo. Bison are the largest terrestrial animal in North America and can stand up to six feet tall. A male may weigh upwards of a ton, and the female about 900 pounds. Before human intervention, bison once ranged over much of North America, including central Canada and most of the interior United States. Today bison are only wild in national parks, state parks, and reserves. The bison in the photos reside in Mason, Michigan, at the Ingham Conservation District.

American bison graze in the fields near Mason, Mich., at the Ingham Conservation District.

This bison prefers to dine by himself.