The American Bison

Buffalo

1. The American Bison of North America actually has two sub-species. They are:

A. Water Buffalo and African Buffalo

B. Plains Buffalo and Wood Buffalo

C. Plains Buffalo and African Buffalo

D. Wood Buffalo and Water Buffalo

2. The buffalo is a massive mammal that can reach sizes of over 2,200 pounds. The life expectancy is 18-22 years in the wild and 35-40 years in captivity. Both male and female buffalo have horns. Buffalo are considered to be a bovine creature. The buffalo will breed with:

A. Only other buffaloes

B. Only buffalo within its sub-species

C. Only with buffalo within its herd

D. With other buffalo and domestic bovines

3. Buffalo mate during what time of year?

A. June and July

B. August and September

C. October and November

D. December and January

4. A single reddish-brown calf is born in the spring and nurses for one year. At what age is a female buffalo considered to be mature/adult (will breed).

A. 1-2 years

B. 2-3 years

C. 3-4 years

D. 4-5 years

5. True or False? A very rare condition produces a white buffalo from a newborn calf considered sacred by many Native Americans.

6. Bull buffalo will mate with

A. Every female it possibly can

B. Only one female

C. The entire herd if he becomes the dominant bull

D. A small harem if he is a dominant bull, waiting for the right moment to mate.

7. A disease that threatens the buffalo today is called

A. Brucellosis

B. Hoof and mouth

C. Chronic Wasting Disease

D. Small Pox

8. True or False? The American Bison was in its day considered an extremely valuable asset. Before horses were introduced to the Native Americans, they used to use rocks and tree branches to form corrals. They would stampede buffalo into these forcing the buffalo over cliffs in large numbers where people would wait to take care of the dead buffalo.

9. True or False? The bison is hunted today by American hunters.

10. The majority of free roaming buffalo in America can be found

A. In most of the Rocky Mountains down into the desert Southwest

B. Only in North Dakota and Montana

C. Colorado

D. Yellowstone National Park