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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Bison

The bison's temperament is often unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. They can move at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 km/h) and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop.

Bison's most obvious weapons are the horns borne by both males and females. But their massive heads can be used as battering rams, effectively using the momentum produced by 2,000 pounds (900 kg) moving at 30 mph (50 km/h). The hind legs can also be used to kill or maim with devastating effect.
Bison cows give birth after nine months and nurse their calves for about a year. Calves are able to stand shortly after birth, but remain vulnerable to wolves and bears until they reach maturity at the age of about three years.

Wallowing is a common behavior of bison. A bison wallow is a shallow depression in the soil, either wet or dry. Bison roll in these depressions, covering themselves with mud or dust. Possible explanations suggested for wallowing behavior include grooming behavior associated with moulting, male-male interaction (typically rutting behavior)


The bison's main food is grass. Bison also eat the low lying shrubbery that is available.Bison's daily schedule involves two-hour periods of grazing, resting and cud chewing, then moving to a new location to graze again. Bison mate in August and September; gestation is 285 days.Bison cows are mature enough to produce a calf at 3 years of age.Bison have a life expectancy of approximately 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.

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