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Wood Bison
Behaviour
Wood bison are gregarious and form mixed groups of cows,
calves, yearlings, and sub-adults. Mature bulls are usually solitary or
form small groups of their own, joining the cow herds during the breeding
season.
The herds are wary and are sensitive to disturbance. Bison
have a keen sense of smell, but limited vision. While they can detect
movement a kilometre away, they might walk past a person sitting quietly
at the edge of the forest. In hunted populations, cow / juvenile groups
react strongly to the sound of a snow machine and might run 5 km or more.
When frightened, these normally slow plodding animals can break
into a rocking gallop, attaining a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour.
 The
onset of fly season in summer agitates the bison. Their sensitive eyes,
nostrils, and almost hairless flanks are plagued by hordes of blackflies
and mosquitoes. On hot
summer days, huge "bull dog" horseflies bite their sensitive legs and
thighs. High wind provides some relief from flies and bison also combat
these pests by rolling in dust wallows. Wallowing also serves as a
social display for bulls, advertising their great size to possible
competitors or intruders.
Bison are grazers, feeding on grasses and sedges that grow
in meadow openings. Willow
leaves and twigs are an important part of the early summer diet, providing
a rich source of protein and other nutrients. Bison use a variety of
habitats during the year but rely heavily on grasses and sedges at all
times, particularly in the winter. Bison forage in deep snow by using
their heads as a snowplough, pushing snow aside with powerful side-to-side
sweeping movements.
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