The largest
extant North American land mammal, American bison (Bison bison)
are members of the mammalian order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae.
Bison bulls can weigh as much as 2,000 lbs and have heavy horns
and a large hump of muscle which supports their enormous head and
thick skull. They have a thick mass of fur on their heads and
a heavy cape of fur even in the summer. This enhances their size
and protects them when fighting.
Cows weigh about half as much
as bulls. Their horns are narrower and are slightly curved. They
have smaller humps and a smoother summer coat. Both sexes possess
true horns which are not shed. Mating occurs in June and July,
with females giving birth to a single calf after a nine-and-one-half
month gestation period. Calves are born from late March through
May and are a bright rust red color for the first month or so.
Cows are very protective of their young and can be even more dangerous
than a bull when they have a calf at their side.
Bison were a keystone species of the Great Plains. Their gregarious
grazing habits have had significant impacts on grassland plant
species, plant communities and over time helped establish the distribution
of grasslands within the Great Plains.
The current bison herd is maintained at approximately 650 animals.
Excess animals are sold live at public
auction, which is held the fourth Thursday of every October.
Since 1907, more than 10,000 animals have been removed from the
Refuge by sale or donation in order to preserve the high quality
of Wichita grasslands. Most animals sold at auction are purchased
by private bison breeders.
Current management consists of habitat monitoring, herd productivity counts to determine the number of calves born each year, roundups in preparation for the annual auction, and various studies including mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evaluations.
Buffalo belong to the cattle family and are subject to some of their diseases. A brucellosis testing program has proven the Wichita herd healthy and free of this viral disease. All sale animals are tested.
These animals are not tame. You are a visitor in their pasture. Do not venture afoot into open pastures close to buffalo. Although they may look clumsy, they are extremely agile and fast. THEY CAN AND WILL CHARGE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING!
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