Description and Adaptation
The Plains bison average weight is around 725 kilograms and they are very fast despite their size. Because many predators frequently chase them they need to be fast. Bison legs are black and most of their body is dark or lightish brown. They have a long brown mane on their shoulders, head and neck and their short legs are covered in hair. Bison have thick coats to stay warm in cold temperatures and in summer they shed off their coat to stay cool. Bison’s powerful hump on their shoulders gives them strength for digging under the snow in winter to find the grass they need to eat. Their hearing and sense of smell is extremely strong so they can detect danger from 3 km away. Bison use their short curved horns to fend off predators. Bulls have square shaped necks and females have shorter rounder necks, they look like a cow with a large hump and short horns.
Habitats, Landforms and Climate
Bison roam in northern Canada in protected areas. In the late 1800’s millions died and were almost brought to extinction. Small herds roam in Elk Island National Park and Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan. Bison live in the north west regions of Canada. The landforms in the interior plains are bare tundra, low mountains and wide river valleys and prairie grass. They only live in the prairie grass section of this region. The plains where bison roam are south of Saskatoon. The Rivers are in the south east of this region and low mountains are in south west. The climate and weather in the interior plains is extreme with very little precipitation. Winters are long and cold while summers are short and cool.
Relationship With Other Species
Bison are herbivore and their diet are grasses and sedges. Bison are strong animals so predators like wolves, bears or cougars only prey on them when they are young. Cowbirds have a relationship with bison because when bison walk through the plains insects attach to their fur and the cowbirds eat those insects.