Buffalo

		SIZE

		HEIGHT:	5-6 ft.
		LENGTH:	6-7 ft. Tail Length: 3 ft.
		WEIGHT:	800-2000 lbs.

		BREEDING

		MATURITY:	2-3 years.
		MATING:	July to October.
		GESTATION:	About 9 months.
		# OF YOUNG :	Normally 1.

		LIFESTYLE

		HABIT:	Diurnal; gregarious.
		DIET:	A grazing animal, feeds mostly on grasses.
		LIFESPAN:	15-20 years, may live up to 30 years

		SCIENTIFIC NAME

		FAMILY:	Classified as "Bison bison". Common name "Bison". Related to domestic cattle.

		GENERAL INFORMATION

		During the 15th century, buffalo dominated the American plains with numbers over 60 million. The Plains Indians followed herds sometimes up to 200 miles across the prairies. The Indians depended on the animal for survival and used every part of the buffalo. They used: hides for teepees and clothing, bones for tools and toys, the meat for food, tendons and muscles for sinewy sewing thread and bowstrings, horns for cups and spoons. They used the brains for hide tanning, the eyes for liquid paint thickener, and the buffalo chips for fuel and baby powder. The destruction of the animal, leading almost to extinction, began in 1830 when government policy advocated their extermination to subdue the "hostile" tribes through starvation. By 1900, less than 1000 buffalo remained. But thanks to federal regulation and careful breeding, there are now about 30,000 buffalo in national parks and privately owned rangeland such as Bear Country U.S.A. A buffalo's habitat varies. They live primarily on plains, prairies, river valleys and sometimes forests. Free ranging buffalo occur only in national parks and reserves such as Yellowstone and Custer. While we often call these animals buffalo, their proper name is bison. True buffalo only live in Africa and Asia. The American buffalo is the largest terrestrial animal in North America. Bulls can weigh up to 2000 pounds, but are very good swimmers in spite of their weight. A buffalo will eat anywhere from 2% to 3% of their body weight "A DAY!!!" This means for every 1,000 pounds, 20 to 30 pounds of food is needed. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds so if you do the math, that is over 60 pounds of food per animal per day. During breeding season, the bulls will fight for cow harems. They stand 20 feet apart and charge colliding foreheads with no apparent injury. This continues until one gives up. Bulls have little time to eat during the breeding season and can lose up to 200 pounds. Gestation is anywhere between eight to nine months. Calves are born in late spring and are light tan or Carmel color. After a few days of birth, the calf can keep up with the herd and follows it's mother until the next spring. As they grow older, they develop heavier and darker hair and the characteristic hump. Buffalo are closely related to cattle and have been successfully crossbred with their domestic cousins to produce a "beefalo."

""We visited in May 2001 on our way to Mt Rushmore. Being from Australia where we don't have bears they were the main attraction for us. But everything was wonderful. We just never expected to see the bear nursery. OMG, I stood in the sun for 1.5 hrs and just couldn't tear myself away. They are the cutest little balls of fur I have ever seen. We have some amazing animals here and they too are cute, Koalas, Wombats, but I guess anything that is different and you don't see becomes really special. I will always remember our visit to Bear Country USA as something really special. I could come back just to be enthralled by the cubs that lift your spirits and can't help but put a huge smile on your face and leave you feeling so much better than when you arrived. Well done ... I just wish you opened earlier in the year.""

Barb & Neil Perryman
Melbourne, Australia