The American Bison
Bison are also called “buffalo,” but they are not related to African or Asian buffalo species. Bison are wildlife and they are native to the North American continent. Generally speaking, Indigenous people prefer to use the term buffalo, and so the term is used in a cultural context where bison is used in scientific contexts.
There are two kinds of bison in North America: Plains bison (Bison bison bison), historically were found in the lower 48 states and southern Canada. The larger wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) ranged in the northern reaches of Canadian provinces and territories and in eastern Alaska. To see these two different kinds of bison, click here.
Last updated: September 25, 2023