Bison

(Bison bison) North America, in herds once spanning from Canada to Mexico. Also commonly known as “Buffalo”.

American bison
Note: Maybe the least “exotic” species on our site, considering bison once roamed our continent by the millions.  Now, with free-roaming poplulations in the U.S. extremely sparse, American bison are stocked and hunted just as many other non-American species.  For the sake of this site, if you see them more on game ranches than roadways — we consider them  “exotic”.

ID
Huge, stocky animal weighing in excess of a ton (2,000 lbs – adult bison).  Two of the most characteristic features of bison are a large shoulder hump and massive head.  Coat color is most often brown, a dark brown to black head and sometimes darker hindquarters.  Longer hair exists on head, chest, and forelegs.  Both males and females have simple, black horns that hook upward to pointed tips.  Horns often appear small in relation to head size but can grow to lengths of 20+ inches (average 12 to 14 inches).  Young are born tan with narrow body shape and awkward long legs.

Behavior
Nomadic herd animals that travel in groups that once numbered in the tens of 1000′s.  Today groups are more often described in dozens than thousands.  Not skitish by nature and often hold ground when approached but may run/stampede when feeling threatened.  Females guard young fiercely.  Dominant bulls attempt to restrict access to a small group of females for mating by “tending” females until allowed to mate, following them around and chasing away rival males. Adult bulls will fight and become very aggressive during the breeding season.

Food Habits
Nomadic heavy grazers that feed on prairie grasses.

Breeding
Bison breed once a year, most often taking place from late June to September.  After a gestation period of 285 days females give birth to a single calf (twins rare), often occurring from mid-April to May.  Off season calving usually occurs in late summer.  Calves are weaned by their mothers for the first 7 to 12  months.  Female bison reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age, while males mature at 3.  Bulls generally do not participate in breeding activities until age 6.

Life Span
Typically survive 15 to 20 years in the wild, but have been known to live up to 40 years in captive habitats.

Keeping Bison
No artificial shelters needed.  Hardy animals that are very disease resistant and adapted to survive in almost any climate or elevation.  Bison are efficient feed utilizers and yield lowfat, high protein meat.  Fencing types for containment vary greatly.  Some folks use a good taut cattle fence while some build fortresses. The preference is somewhere in-between. What works for one person may not work for you. One good philosophy is that “it is better to be safe than sorry.” — National Bison Association
For more information on raising bison visit the National Bison Association

Bison Hunting
Expect to pay from $1,500 to $4,500 for a chance to hunt a buffalo.  Avg. cost is ~ $3,100.