00:00The American Bison, from near extinction to national symbol.
00:04The American bison looks slow and heavy, but this national symbol is full of surprises.
00:10Bison are the largest land mammals in North America, with adult bulls weighing as much as 2,000 pounds.
00:17Despite that size, they can run up to 35 miles per hour and turn surprisingly quickly when threatened.
00:24They are often called buffalo, but true buffalo species live in Africa and Asia.
00:30While American bison belong to a different group.
00:33Millions once roamed across North America, from Alaska to Mexico and east, toward the Appalachian Mountains.
00:40By the late 1800s, hunting and habitat loss had reduced them to only a few hundred animals in the United
00:47States.
00:48Conservation programs, indigenous communities, private ranchers, states, and federal agencies helped bring the species back from the edge of extinction.
00:57Bison also shape the landscapes they live in by grazing, trampling vegetation, and creating dusty wallows, where they roll to
01:05remove loose fur and discourage biting insects.
01:08Their thick coats, layers of fat, and dense underfur help them survive brutal winters.
01:14They may have poor eyesight, but their hearing and sense of smell are excellent.
01:19Bison calves are sometimes nicknamed red dogs because of their reddish-orange coats at birth.
01:25In 2016, the American bison officially became the national mammal of the United States.
01:32From near extinction to national icon, the bison remains one of America's most remarkable wildlife comeback stories.
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