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Buffalo and Bison
Buffalo and bison are large mammals that graze on the grasses of North American prairies. Bison were hunted for their skins almost to extinction in the 19th century and were reduced to a few hundred by the mid-1880s.
1,412 Questions
Why was the buffalo sacred to plains Indians?
This animal represents the lifes blood of their people. Long before any
European reintroduced the horse. firearms and the concept of trading for
furs the American Plains Indians had built their lives and culture around
this magnificent beast. It was warmth, shelter, food for the long winter
and a cause for celebration. It provided a means of passage to manhood,
an intertribal commodity of trade and sinew, medicanal products and bone
for the production of tools. The American Buffalo was the Wal-Mart of its
time.
Can Buffalo and cattle interbreed?
Yes. An animal that is 3/8's Bison and 5/8's domestic bovine (often a beef breed) is called a Beefalo.
What animals eat buffalo grass?
cows and goats and horses that all because if you realized hay is made out of buffalo grass
What is the gender of a Buffalo?
Buffalo's come in two genders. The female is referred to as a cow, and the male is referred to as a bull. The young (both male and female) is referred to as a calf.
Normally buffaloes will have front teeth in the lower jaw. The upper jaw consists of gums instead of teeth in the front part.
What did the Plains Indian make?
Hunting: Bows and arrows, spears, knives, hide scrapers, drums Transportation: Birchbark canoes, bull boats, toboggans,
What does the plain Indians use the buffalo for?
the shoulder blades and bones were used to make hoes, knives, arrow heads, needles and sledge runners.
the intestines were dried out and used as string and charms/pendants
the skull was decorated and used in religious rituals.
the horns were used to make headdresses, spoons, cups and powder-flasks.
the hooves was used to make glue, children's rattles and tools.
the tongue were used to make hairbrushes and also provided food.
the flesh were eaten raw or boiled, roasted or dried or stored and eaten in winter.
the hair were used to make string or rope and stuffing (for cushions, saddles, pillows)
the fur were used for blankets saddle covers and gloves/mittens
the fat was used to make soap.
the brain was used for tanning
the dung was used as fuel
the tail was used as fly swats
Herds - Bison usually travel in small bands of twenty or more searching for grass to eat. The leader is an older stronger male. The small groups form larger herds when they are migrating. The larger the herd, the safer they are.
Horns - They rub the horns against trees or even against rocks to keep the horns sharp and polished.
Senses - Bison have excellent senses of hearing and smell to alert them of dangers. It is difficult to sneak up on a bison. The wide flat nose picks up the scent and the bison is always listening for any unusual sounds. They have poor eyesight.
Defense - When bison are alarmed, they run (stampede) or defend themselves with their sharp horns. Or, Instead of stampeding they might surround the young.
Nose - Besides having a keen sense of smell, the bison uses its nose for pushing away the snow and uncovering the grass that lies underneath.
Fur coat - Bison actually have two coats in one. There is a layer of underfur close to the body for trapping warm air next to the skin. The thick outer coat sheds water and keeps out the wind. In spring the bison sheds the winter coat.
Migration - For the winter, bison migrate to valleys and wooded areas to find shelter from the cold winter storms.
Wallowing - The bison is bothered by insect pests which bite or lay eggs on the fur. Wallowing (or rolling on the ground ) helps to get rid of the pests, and also helps to rub off the loose patches of fur.
Tail - looks like a rope. It makes a great fly swatter.
How are wolves helpful to humans?
Wolves prefer to hunt old, weak or ill creatures, since they are easier to hunt and take down than a healthy creature. This can actually help the herd, sine old or unhealthy creatures can be a burden to its herd. For example, old or aged caribou eat food that others need to raise their young. Sick elk could infect other members of the herd.
What is the buffalo flesh used for?
In the olden days, Native Americans used buffalo in 58 different ways.
They were used for food, the cloth for tepees, rituals, religious ceremonies, and many other things as well.
Nowadays, buffalo are mainly used for hunting or even for pets.
As of 2008, there were 3,000 wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) left in the wild, residing in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. There are also 53 in the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Alaska.
How strong is a water buffalo?
Domesticated water buffalo are often used for draft purposes due to the fact that they are quite strong. It's possible that a domestic water buffalo is strong enough to pull another fully-grown buffalo behind if it was loaded on a cart or sled.
How much milk can a buffalo can give in a day?
It depends upon the breed of Buffalo however the Indian buffalo gives about 20-40 liters a milk in a day.
Where does a water buffalo live?
Not naturally. But that isn't to say that they don't live there, because they are found and raised in parts of America as exotic livestock.
In a natural setting though, no. Water buffalo are primarily found in the south and eastern portions of Asia.
How would you describe a buffalo?
There is not an adjective definiton however you could say something is buffalo-like or buffalo-esque (not in proffesional situations).
Yes, they are a sub species of grey wolf and I saw one in OR in the southern part, and was told they have wild packs though few still exist in an area south of Diamond Lake and Crater Lake. Locals told me about a woman who had a pack of these shaggy creatures and she set them free. Now it seems they are often seen and locals prefer to not talk about them to keep the whereabouts secrete. The one I saw was at a sanctuary in southern OR and he was brought out for us to see and touch his long shaggy coat.
We have few wolves left due to many misconceptions and the relentless hunting of them as encouraged by ranchers and folks like the Palins of Alaske and governors of other states. At first, the Corps of Discovery had lumped the wild canines into two groups: coyotes were referred to as "prairie wolves," and gray wolves were called "large wolves." When they discovered the buffalo wolf subspecies, Lewis made detailed observations of how a pack would isolate an antelope from the herd so they could chase it down. He wrote they "...are very numerous, they aof a light colr. & has long hair with Coarse fur."
What does a water buffalo eat?
Water buffaloes eat grass found in or near water. That will also include hay and grain that they're fed if grass is not available.
Is a bison female or male bull?
Bisons are commonly called Buffaloes but they are not related to true buffaloes.
What does a bison eat in the arctic?
well i don`t know but i do know that they eat grass and hay for the summer
