Types of Bison in Georgia

Bison evolved on the vast open prairies of North America where they could roam hundreds of miles across grassland. Georgia has no such habitat. The state is dominated by forests in the north and central regions, with coastal plains to the east and south. Bison cannot thrive in dense woodlands or wetlands. Additionally, Georgia's hot, humid summers stress bison, which are adapted to the drier continental climate of the Great Plains. No state in the southeastern United States has wild bison populations.

Most bison seen in Georgia are American bison (Bison bison), the species native to North America. These are domestic or semi-domesticated animals raised for meat, hides, and breeding stock. A few farms and private landowners keep bison as livestock or hobby animals. These captive herds are not wild; they live in fenced enclosures and depend on human care. European bison (Bison bonasus) are not found in Georgia.

Yes. Bison are significantly larger, with massive shoulders and a distinctive hump above the front legs. Their heads are broader and their horns curve inward more sharply than cattle horns. Bison have a thick, shaggy mane on the neck and chest, especially in winter. Their coat is dark brown or black. Domestic cattle lack the shoulder hump and have a more slender front end. If you see a hump-backed, heavily built animal on a Georgia farm, it is a bison. If it is sleek and leaner, it is cattle.

Male bison (bulls) are noticeably larger and heavier than females (cows), often weighing 800 to 2,000 pounds or more. Bulls have thicker, longer horns and a more pronounced hump and mane. Cows are smaller and lighter, typically 600 to 1,000 pounds. Both sexes have horns, but the bull's horns are thicker and curve more boldly inward. In winter, males grow an even thicker coat and mane.

American bison have dark brown to nearly black coats. Calves are often a lighter reddish-brown when born and darken as they age. The mane, which runs from the head down the neck and across the massive shoulders, is typically darker than the body and hangs heavily in long strands. Older bison can appear almost black, especially bulls. There are no common color variations in wild or feral bison populations, though coat shade can vary slightly between individuals and seasons.

American bison are among the largest land mammals in North America. Bulls average 1,500 to 2,000 pounds and stand 5.5 to 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Cows are smaller, typically 900 to 1,200 pounds and 4.5 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Large bulls can exceed 2,000 pounds. Bison are bulkier and heavier than horses or moose, though not as tall as moose at the shoulder. A mature bull bison is unmistakable in size and presence.

Bison are herbivores that graze on grasses and sedges. On the Great Plains, they roamed vast prairies eating native prairie grasses. Domestic or captive bison in Georgia are typically fed hay, pasture grass, and grain supplements. They do not eat meat or leaves from trees. Bison spend much of their day grazing, especially in early morning and late afternoon. In winter, they paw through snow to reach grass underneath.

Bison can vocalize in several ways. Bulls during the rut (breeding season) emit low bellows and grunts. Both sexes can snort loudly when alarmed. Calves make bleating sounds to communicate with mothers. A charging or defensive bison may snort and bellow loudly. Bison are generally quieter than cattle, but an agitated herd can produce substantial noise. Wild or semi-wild bison are dangerous and should never be approached.

American bison have a breeding season (rut) that typically occurs from June through September, with peak activity in July and August. Gestation lasts about nine months, so calves are born primarily from April through May. Calves are born reddish-brown and weigh 30 to 50 pounds. Mothers are protective and will charge anything they perceive as a threat to calves. Most domestic bison farms time breeding to have spring calves, which is natural for the species.

No established wild bison populations exist east of the Mississippi River. The nearest wild bison herds are in the western Great Plains, primarily in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The Yellowstone region has a significant bison population in Yellowstone National Park and the National Bison Range in Montana. To see wild bison, you must travel west. Some zoos and wildlife parks throughout the eastern United States keep bison for display, but these are not wild herds.