Wood Bison

Wood bison are the larger cousins of plains bison, native to northern Canada. Wood Buffalo National Park was set up to protect declining herds in the 1920s. Plains bison were moved to the park to encourage growth of the herd and the two strains interbred. In 1963, 18 of the remaining healthy wood bison were transplanted to the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary. They have expanded their range far outside the boundaries of the sanctuary and are moving north and west.

Male wood bison stand 1.8 m (6 feet), and can weigh up to 1000 kg (2200 lbs). Females are somewhat smaller. Normally slow moving, gregarious and playful, wood bison can jump obstacles almost two metres high, swim up to four km, and, when aroused, can run 60 km per hour.

Bison often move onto our highways to escape wolves and insects. At certain times of the day they are difficult to spot on the road, and several are accidentally killed each year. Motorists are requested to stop at least 100m away from the animals, stay in the vehicle and let the bison cross the road in their own time. They may charge if agitated and they can move very quickly. Wood bison are the largest land mammal in North America. Vehicle-bison encounters are never good news for either party.

Wood bison and plains bison are sometimes called buffalo, but Asian and African buffalo are considered to be a different species.