The muscular hump acts as the bison's snowplow, allowing the beast to swing its head from side to side, pave a path through drifts of snow, and reach grasses hidden below.
Source: National Park Service
A full-grown bison stands five to six-and-half feet and weighs over a ton, making it the heaviest land animal in North America.
Source: National Geographic
Their size doesn't hold them back, however. Bison can run up to 40 miles per hour.
Source: National Geographic
Females are called cows and males are called bulls. Both sport horns reaching up to two feet.
Source: National Geographic
Its shaggy coat is so well insulated that snow can land on a bison's back and not melt.
Source: National Geographic
While some mature bulls live alone, bison generally live in small bands. They meet up in large herds every summer for mating season.
Source: National Park Service and National Geographic
In prehistoric times, these formidable beasts roamed much of North America. Their population was believed to be as high as 60 million when Columbus arrived.
Source: National Park Service
Many Native American tribes consider the bison a sacred symbol of their history. The animal sustained indigenous people, providing food, clothing, shelter, and fuel.
Source: National Park Service
Sadly, westward expansion nearly wiped bisons from the Great Plains during the 19th century. Settlers slaughtered some 50 million for food and sport.
Source: National Geographic
The slaughter also served to cut Native Americans off from their supplies. Their near-extinction all but ended the fight for native independence.
Source: Indian Country
Thankfully, the bison returned from the brink of extinction thanks to a concerted effort by ranchers, conservationists, tribes, and politicians.
Source: Wildlife Conservation Society press release
In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt and the American Bison Society shipped 15 animals from the Bronx Zoo out west, where the population began to rebound.
Source: Wildlife Conservation Society press release and National Geographic
Today, bison thrive. A coalition of 60 tribes are working to grow the population across 1 million acres of Indian territory.
Source: Wildlife Conservation Society press release
While they may look like lumbering giants, the bison has an unpredictable personality.
Source: National Park Service
Most of the time they graze lazily, but they've been known to attack without provocation.
Source: National Park Society
These herbivores eat grass, herbs, shrubs, and twigs. They chew it up, regurgitate, and nosh on the cud before digesting it again.
Source: National Geographic
They also like roll around in the dirt, a behavior called wallowing. It helps bison rid themselves of flies and clumps of molted fur.
Source: National Park Service