The Bison Is an Iconic Symbol of the American West

by Bruno Torres, age 10

The American bison is a popular animal in North America characterized by its strong body, humps, horns, and coat.

Bison live in many unique places such as the high plains of North America and Alaska. There are also many bison located in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Bison consume grass, herbs, leaves, shoots, and bark. Their hoof is a big hand that helps them pick up small food. The bison can weigh between 1,000 and 2,205 pounds, which is comparable to the size of a car.

Bison have huge, bulky forequarters, massive heads and lean hindquarters. They are good at running at high speed. The hump is a thick pad of body tissues covering bony outgrowths from the spine. Both genders have big horns that are sharp and can defeat other bulls. The bulls have thick fur to help them stay warm during winter. During the summer, their fur sheds. Some bulls have to fight over females when the breeding season comes around

Bison are cool animals and have a lot of different features. Being able to see one would be very fun!

[Sources: North American Mammals; National Geographic Kids]