Bison

Bison are the largest North American land animals with weights over 1000 kilograms recorded (Foresman 2012). They have a massive dark head with short black horns curving upward and inward from the base. A large mop of long dark hair covers the top of the head. The body is tall and narrow (1.8 meters at the shoulder) (Foresman 2012), with a distinctive large shoulder hump tapering toward the hindquarters. The tail is short and tufted at the end. The legs are relatively short. Adult Bison have heavy light brown hair covering their shoulders and forequarters blending to shorter darker hair from their shoulders back. The head, neck and front legs have dark hair as well. In summer, much of the hair on the hindquarters is lost. Male bison are proportionally larger and more robust than females. Calves are reddish in color but darken to adult pelage by their first fall.