American buffalo: Difference between revisions

The Bison is often called a buffalo, but is not at all so. The buffalo does not actually (naturally) live in the U.S. What people (including our government with the buffalo nickel and the famous song "Home on the Range") often refer to as a buffalo, is really a bison. There are a few major differences between the two. First of all, the bison lives in North America, the buffalo doesn't naturally live here. Second of all, the bison has thick fur and short horns. The buffalo has short fur, and longer curved horns. And third of all, the bison is much much bigger than the buffalo. [http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/meats/beef/bison.asp#facts]

Bison are very large animals. Weighing up to a ton, and being over twelve feet long, they are quite the beast. Despite their massive size though, the bison an really run. They are often clocked at up to 35mph.[http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/bison.php]

Bison once roamed in very very large numbers, but were then hunted to near extinction. Now the bison has escaped that danger, but there are no where near as many bison now as before. The bison were mainly hunted for their meat, and their very thick fur, that could keep the natives warm in the winter.[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000784]