How many buffalo exist today?

Approximately 500,000 buffalo live across North America as of 2014. The term buffalo is a synonym used for the American bison. Most are not pure wild bison, but have been cross-bred with cattle in the past. Less than 30,000 wild bison are in conservation herds.

An adult male weighs around 2,000 pounds, while an adult female weighs around 1,100 pounds. Buffalo eat most plants and grasses found in pastures. Calves weigh between 40 and 50 pounds when born, and they are able to walk or run within a few hours. Females may have a single calf every year under the right conditions. Buffalo have a life span of 20 to 25 years.