Where do bison live?

Bison are found in western parts of North America. Although 20 to 30 million animals once lived on the continent, only about 500,000 are left. Most of these are livestock on ranches.

Less than 30,000 wild bison live in protected areas, such as in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park and Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada. Fewer than 5,000 bison actually survive free in the wild. Typically, bison prefer to roam extensively, grazing as they travel. Large groups consist of females and their young. Males live on their own or in small groups until mating season, when they become part of the main group in order to find partners.