American Bison on the Prairie

An American bison stands among waving grasses on a South Dakota prairie. Beyond it, low hills meet the sky. Its massive shoulders and shaggy brown coat make it easy to recognize, but these features also help it survive on the open grassland.

A bison’s shoulder hump is made mostly of muscle. Those powerful muscles support its large head, which it can swing from side to side to push snow away from grasses in winter. A thick coat helps keep the animal warm during cold, windy weather. In spring, pieces of the heavy winter coat shed as temperatures rise.

Bison spend much of their time grazing, or eating grasses and other low-growing plants. Their movement and feeding can shape the prairie. When they graze in one area and move on, plants get a chance to grow again. Bison also roll on the ground, creating shallow, dusty hollows called wallows. Rainwater can collect in these hollows, providing damp places for some plants and insects.

Long ago, millions of bison roamed across North America. They were important to many Indigenous peoples, who used bison for food, clothing, tools, and other needs. During the 1800s, widespread hunting and other pressures caused bison numbers to fall sharply. Today, conservation efforts have helped bison survive in parks, on tribal lands, and on private ranches.

Although a grazing bison may seem calm, it is a wild animal that can move surprisingly fast. People who visit places where bison live must give them plenty of space. From a safe distance, they can watch one of the prairie’s most remarkable animals at home.