Jack Dykinga · Original image & credits · Public domain
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American bison
Explore how American bison find food, use their shoulder hump in snow, and recovered from near extinction. Follow National Park Service evidence and try a habitat challenge.
Discover the expedition atlasQuestions, adaptations and evidence
Explore how American bison find food, use their shoulder hump in snow, and recovered from near extinction. Follow National Park Service evidence and try a habitat challenge.
Start with the questions below, follow the linked evidence, then try the discovery challenge with someone else.
Questions worth exploring
DodoHistory field notes · Sources checked
What do American bison eat?
Grasses make up much of a bison’s food, alongside other leafy plants. Its size does not mean it hunts other animals: a large herbivore can get its energy by spending many hours feeding on vegetation.
National Park Service · Bison natural history and conservation ↗What is a bison’s shoulder hump for?
The hump helps support movements of the heavy head. In winter, bison can sweep their heads across snow to expose plants. Try connecting the visible body feature to a problem the animal faces: reaching food beneath a snowy surface.
National Park Service · Bison natural history and conservation ↗Did American bison go extinct?
No. Hunting and habitat loss brought them close to extinction in the nineteenth century. Conservation involving Indigenous peoples, private individuals and public agencies helped restore herds. Recovery does not mean the former landscape or all its herds have been restored.
National Park Service · Bison natural history and conservation ↗Why do bison roll in dirt?
This behavior is called wallowing. It can help remove loose fur and deter biting flies. During the breeding season, males also use wallowing as part of scent marking and display. The same visible behavior can have more than one role.
National Park Service · Bison natural history and conservation ↗
