Expert insights from Peter Gros, co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild
Bison are large, hoofed mammals known for their massive shoulders, shaggy coats and deep connection to the grasslands of North America. As the continent’s largest land mammal, they once moved across the prairies in enormous herds, grazing, roaming and shaping the landscape around them. Often called buffalo, the American bison is its own distinct animal. Today it stands at the center of one of North America’s most hopeful conservation stories, tied to healthy grasslands, Tribal communities and public lands.
Key takeaways
- Bison are large, hoofed mammals native to North America.
- They’re often called buffalo, but bison is the more accurate name.
- Bison are North America’s largest land mammal.
- Adult males (bulls) weigh more than 2,000 pounds and stand around 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Females (cows) are usually smaller.
- Bison live in grasslands, prairies, plains, river valleys and other open landscapes.
- They’re grazing animals, feeding mostly on grasses and other prairie plants.
- Herd size ranges from a few animals to several hundred, depending on the season, food and management.
- Bison are powerful wild animals, so always watch them from a safe distance.
- Once hunted to near extinction, bison are now at the center of a hopeful conservation story tied to healthy grasslands and cultural restoration.
What’s a bison?
A bison is a large, hoofed mammal native to North America and the largest land mammal on the continent. It has a recognizable silhouette: a heavy front body, muscular shoulders rising into a tall hump, a broad, low-carried head, short, curved horns and a thick, shaggy coat built for hard prairie winters.
Despite the nickname, a bison isn’t a buffalo. True buffalo — the African buffalo and the water buffalo — live in other parts of the world and have a different build. In North America, people have called bison buffalo for generations. You’ll still hear it today, but bison is the name scientists and wildlife experts use.
Bison quick facts
- Common name: Bison
- Scientific name: Bison bison
- Animal group: Mammal
- Mammal type: Ungulate (hoofed mammal)
- Native range: North America
- Size: Males are larger than females and can stand around 6 feet tall at the shoulder
- Weight: Adult males can weigh more than 2,000 pounds, while females are usually smaller
- Adult appearance: Large head, high shoulder hump, curved horns, shaggy coat and short tail
- Juvenile appearance: Baby bison (calves) are smaller and lighter in color
- Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, plains, river valleys and open landscapes
- Diet: Grasses and other prairie plants
- Social behavior: Live in herds; herd size varies by season and management
- Conservation status: Once hunted to near extinction; conservation now focuses on restoring healthy herds, grassland habitat and cultural connections
Explore bison stories
Keep exploring bison through Wild Kingdom videos, podcasts and related stories about prairie wildlife, conservation and North American grasslands.
- National Wildlife Week: Bison
- Returning Bison to the Great Plains
- Rewilding the American Prairie
- Restoring the Bison, Reviving the Prairie
What does a bison look like?
A bison is a massive, dark brown animal with a shaggy coat built for prairie winters, a broad head that hangs low and a tall hump rising over its shoulders. Short, curved horns sit on either side of the head on both males and females, and a beard of coarse fur hangs beneath the chin. Their build is dramatically front heavy, with powerful shoulders and front legs giving way to slimmer hindquarters.
Males, called bulls, are usually larger and heavier than females, called cows, though both carry the same rugged build. Young bison, called calves, start out smaller and are a lighter, reddish-tan color, darkening as they grow. The iconic humps and horns fill in as calves age.
Where do bison live?
Bison live in North America, on the wide-open landscape they’ve always been tied to — grasslands, prairies and plains. Depending on the region and the herd, they also range into river valleys, open meadows and the edges of forests. What links these places is space. Bison need room to roam, along with steady grass to graze, water to drink and open ground to move across as a herd.
Today that space takes different forms. Some bison roam national parks and wildlife refuges, while others live on Tribal lands, conservation areas or managed private ranches. Wherever they are, bison rarely stay in one place. They shift across the landscape through the year, following the food, the weather and the movement of the herd.
Why are bison important?
Bison are important as wildlife, as cultural symbols and as one of the forces that keep North American grasslands healthy. They don’t just live on the prairie. They help build it. As they move and graze across open country, bison shape the land in ways that reach far beyond themselves.
Much of that shaping happens through everyday behavior. As bison graze, roam and wallow — rolling on the ground to create shallow depressions — they leave their mark behind across the prairie. These patterns in the grass, the soil and the land itself are exactly what many other grassland species depend on.
“Bison were the primary ecosystem engineers of American grasslands. Their grazing habits, powerful hooves and even their waste were all vital for creating the prairie’s intricate biodiversity,” said Peter Gros, co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.
Bison are just as important to people. For many Tribal nations, bison are woven into history and daily life. They’re a source of food, shelter and cultural tradition, and a living connection between people, land and wildlife. That relationship is part of why so many restoration efforts today are led in partnership with Tribal communities, conservation groups, zoos, public agencies and local land managers.
But the grasslands bison depend on are going fast. More than 70% of North American grasslands and 95% of tallgrass prairies have disappeared due to development, agriculture and invasive species. The bison and the prairie are so closely connected that saving one means saving the other.
Are bison still endangered?
Bison are no longer on the brink of extinction, but whether they’re still endangered today isn’t a simple yes or no. They aren’t all counted or managed the same way, which makes their conservation status hard to pin down. Some bison live in private or commercial herds, while others live in public, Tribal or conservation herds.
What’s clear is that the American bison isn’t gone. But recovery isn’t complete, either. Strong numbers are only part of the future. Conservation today focuses on restoring healthy herds, protecting genetic diversity, supporting natural behaviors and reconnecting bison to the grassland ecosystems they helped shape.
What’s being done to support bison conservation?
Bison conservation is happening on many fronts at once. Some efforts focus on restoring conservation herds, while others work on grassland habitat, herd health, Tribal partnerships, public education and long-term land stewardship.
Some of the most ambitious efforts aim to rebuild whole ecosystems, not just herds.
“In central Montana, a conservation nonprofit called American Prairie is working to carefully restore a fully functioning prairie ecosystem. Just like the Wind River Tribal Initiative in Wyoming, American Prairie reintroduces wild bison conservation herds to the landscape,” Peter Gros said.
That habitat-first thinking is becoming the model. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction North American Grasslands coalition brings together programs focused on the many species that depend on Great Plains and prairie ecosystems. The goal is to look at conservation through a wider lens instead of one species at a time.
The progress is real and worth celebrating, but it isn’t finished. Bison haven’t been fully restored everywhere they once roamed and many of the landscapes that once supported them have changed. Keeping healthy herds, open space and grassland biodiversity alive will take continued work for years to come.
Watch bison on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
Bison are part of a bigger Wild Kingdom story about prairie ecosystems, conservation, restoration and the people working to help wildlife thrive. Learn how to watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild on NBC, YouTube and Peacock.
Frequently asked questions about bison
Is a bison a buffalo or a bull?
A bison is neither a buffalo nor a bull. A bull is an adult male bison, and bison aren’t true buffalo. In North America, people say “buffalo” when they mean American bison.
What’s the difference between bison and buffalo?
Bison and buffalo are different animals. American bison live in North America and have a large shoulder hump, shaggy coat and short curved horns. True buffalo, such as African buffalo and water buffalo, live in other parts of the world and have a different body shape.
Why are bison no longer called buffalo?
Because American bison aren’t true buffalo. Scientists and wildlife experts use “bison” to set them apart from the true buffalo species in Africa and Asia. But many people still say buffalo in everyday conversation.
What does a bison look like?
A bison has a large head, a tall shoulder hump, shaggy fur, short, curved horns and a heavy front body. Adult males are usually larger than females, and calves are smaller and lighter in color when young.
How big is an American bison?
Adult males can stand around 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh more than 2,000 pounds, making American bison the largest land mammal in North America. Females are usually smaller.
Where do bison live?
Bison live in North America, in grasslands, prairies, plains, river valleys and other open landscapes. Some herds live in national parks, refuges, Tribal lands, conservation areas or managed private lands.
What’s a bison’s habitat?
A bison’s habitat includes open space, grasses or other plants to eat, water and room for the herd to move. Healthy grassland habitat also supports many other species, from birds and pollinators to smaller mammals.
What do bison eat?
Bison are grazing animals that mostly eat grasses. They’ll also eat sedges (a grass-like plant), herbs and other low-growing plants, depending on what’s available. Because bison graze, move and wallow across the land, they help shape prairie ecosystems. This movement affects plant growth, soil conditions and habitat patterns for other grassland species.
How many bison are in a herd?
Bison herd size can vary widely from just a few animals to dozens, hundreds or more, depending on the landscape, season and how the herd is managed.
How many real bison are left?
It depends on what’s meant by “real bison.” Some estimates count all bison in North America, including private and commercial herds. Conservation-focused numbers may look only at wild, public, Tribal or genetically managed herds. Because of that, it’s better to explain the type of herd being discussed rather than rely on one broad number.
Why are bison so rare?
Bison became rare because they were hunted to near extinction and lost much of their historic grassland habitat. Their numbers have improved, but many bison today live in managed herds rather than roaming across the huge open landscapes they once used.
How can people safely view bison?
The safest way to view bison is from a distance. Bison may look calm when they are grazing or resting, but they’re large, powerful wild animals that can move quickly and react if people get too close.
Use binoculars or a zoom lens, stay on marked trails or roads and follow all park or local wildlife viewing rules. Don’t approach, feed, touch or try to take close photos of bison. Responsible wildlife viewing helps protect both people and animals.
Which U.S. state has the most bison?
South Dakota is often cited as the state with the largest bison numbers, especially when private and managed herds are counted. The answer can vary, though, depending on whether the count includes private, public and Tribal herds or only wild-roaming bison.
Sources:
Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Lehigh County and Lehigh Valley Zoo Foster Transfer of Bison for Conservation and Cultural Revitalization, Jan. 7, 2026, accessed June 2026.
Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Common Ground, Feb. 4, 2026, accessed June 2026.
