National Bison Month

Happy Sunday, Missians!

Welcome to the second post of our Second Annual Christmas in July celebration.  Since there is no specific pet or animal holiday on July 2nd, I decided to insert this majestic animal into the slot, (since July is National Bison Month).  Mostly every article I came across celebrating Bison Month, seems to mainly mention, what makes the Bison an excellent source of meat, in lieu of beef.  I'm not disputing all that, but I didn't want everything unique and special about this animal, just to be about how good it tastes, (I personally, won't ever find out--you're safe with me, Mr. Bison).

So in honor of this cool beast, it is today's Featured Animal.  Information about The American Bison is provided courtesy of National Geographic.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/american-bison/

American Bison:

Common Name: American Bison

Scientific Name: Bison bison

Type: Mammals

Diet: Herbivores

Group Name: Herd

Average life span in The Wild: 12 to 20 years

Size: Head and body, 7 to 11.5 ft; tail 19.75 to 23.5 in

Weight: 930 to 2,200 lb

 

About the American Bison

Bison, symbolic animals of the Great Plains, are often mistakenly called buffaloes. By any name, they are formidable beasts and the heaviest land animals in North America.

Size and Diet

Bison stand some 5 to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder, and can tip the scales at over a ton. Despite their massive size, bison are quick on their feet. When the need arises they can run at speeds up to 40 miles an hour. They sport curved, sharp horns that may grow to be two feet long.

These large grazers feed on plains grasses, herbs, shrubs, and twigs. They regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before final digestion.

Herd Behavior

Females (cows) and adult males (bulls) generally live in small, separate bands and come together in very large herds during the summer mating season. Males battle for mating primacy, but such contests rarely turn dangerous. Females give birth to one calf after a nine-month pregnancy.

Cultural Importance

Bison once covered the Great Plains and much of North America, and were critically important to Plains Indian societies. During the 19th century, settlers killed some 50 million bison for food, sport, and to deprive Native Americans of their most important natural asset. The once enormous herds were reduced to only a few hundred animals. Today, bison numbers have rebounded somewhat, and about 500,000 bison live on preserves and ranches where they are raised for their meat.

Hope you got some cool, new facts in your noggin, about the Bison.  They're more than just food!  They're a force in their own right!

Until our next Christmas in July post,

This is your host J,
signing off....