Question 1

True or false: Bison calves are born with a full coat of fur and can walk within minutes.

Accepted Answer

True. Calves are precocial—born with a reddish coat and able to stand and walk shortly after birth to follow the herd.

Question 2

True or false: The American bison is the national mammal of the United States.

Accepted Answer

True. In 2016, the bison was officially designated as the national mammal of the U.S., joining the bald eagle as a national symbol.

Question 3

True or false: Bison are often called buffalo, and they are actually native to Africa.

Accepted Answer

False. Bison are native to North America and Europe (European bison). The term 'buffalo' is a misnomer; true buffalo live in Africa and Asia.

Question 4

True or false: Bison can jump vertically over six feet from a standstill.

Accepted Answer

True. Despite their size, bison are surprisingly agile and can leap up to 6 feet high to clear obstacles when needed.

Question 5

True or false: Bison horns are made of bone and grow continuously throughout their life.

Accepted Answer

False. Bison horns are made of keratin (like hair and nails), not bone, and they stop growing once the animal reaches maturity.

Question 6

True or false: During the 19th century, bison were hunted to extinction in the wild.

Accepted Answer

False. Bison nearly went extinct, dropping to around 1,000 individuals, but managed to survive in small wild pockets and were later reintroduced.

Question 7

True or false: Bison have the largest lungs of any land mammal in North America.

Accepted Answer

True. Bison possess enormous lungs relative to their body size, enabling them to run long distances and thrive in harsh winters.

Question 8

True or false: Bison primarily communicate through complex songs that can be heard for miles.

Accepted Answer

False. Bison communicate using grunts, snorts, and body language, not songs. Their vocalizations are low-frequency and carry, but not melodic.

Bison Trivia Questions