Bison aren't serious all the time. Young bison are thought to play. Play is manifested by seemingly purposeless frolicking, including chasing, battling, butting, kicking, and racing. Such activity aids muscle development and coordination important later in life.
Although bison have keen sense of smell, their eyesight is poor. They maintain contact with one another by uttering hog-like grunts. Bison are ordinarily mild-mannered, even dull, animals but can be aggressive. Threat postures, which may be a prelude to fighting, include a snort or a growling, guttural bellow with head up, mouth wide open, and tail erect. Heed these warnings!
For your safety, when visiting a bison herd, please observe the following rules:
- Rule #1: Stay in your car!
- Rule #2: Stay in your car! Bison are fast - they can go from 0 to Oops! (up to 35mph) faster than you can say it! If they're blocking the road, wait. Though they may be big and fuzzy, bison are essentially wild animals and are not cuddly.
- Rule #3: Stay in your car!
The original herd of 300 bison has grown to the optimum size of about 2,500, which is based on the available range. Learn more ►