Alaska - Bison Big Game Animal

The American bison is one of several big gamethe cold winds and temperatures. In fact, strong
animals in Alaska. The bison was transplanted towinter winds tend to benefit the bison, as the winds
Alaska from Montana in 1928, after becoming almostwill blow the snow, preventing it from accumulating
extinct in America. Twenty of these animals wereand becoming too deep. The healthy bison usually
delivered to an area around Delta Junction and bysurvives the winters.
1985 the population had grown to approximately 700.They migrate to a winter range in the northwest
The bison is a spectacular animal in size, measuring sixaround Farewell Lake, where there are many small
feet at the shoulders, almost ten feet long andrivers and ponds with vegetation available for them
weighing over a ton. The head and front quarters areto eat. They are able to smell food beneath deep
the largest part of the body, making this section looksnow and they use their huge bodies to push the
out of proportion to the hind quarters, which aresnow away to get to the food.
smaller.Bison hunts have to be controlled to prevent the
The bison sheds its coat in the spring of the year,population from overburdening the limited range
after winter is over. Then, in the fall, it grows itsareas. Hunting bison is a challenge, as stalking them is
winter coat, which is a rich, dark brown color. Thedifficult; and bringing them down also is quite a feat.
coat changes color during the winter and by spring isThey are the hardest of all Alaska's big game to
a lighter color. Bison bulls have large, heavy horns thatbring down. Their meat tastes much like beef and is
curve upward. Cows' horns are lighter and not asdelicious to eat.
large.Bears and wolves are predators of bison calves, but
Calves are born anytime from May to August and atusually do not have much luck, as the adult bison will
first have a brownish red coat. At ten weeks old, thisfight to protect the calves. All predators will leave
brownish red coat starts to darken and about fiveadult bison alone, because of their size, which
weeks later, turns to the dark brown color. They areintimidates and their large horns, which they use to
very active almost immediately after birth, being ablefight with, and can easily kill another animal. They are
to run and kick their hind legs up in the air aboutsecond only to the black bear for viciousness
three hours after birth. They also begin grazing at antowards any threatening creature.
early age - about six days old. They will stay withApproximately sixty million bison roamed the Great
their mother, following her until the next spring, whenPlains from Mexico to Canada and north into Alaska
they are about a year old, before they venture outup until the nineteen century. Then came the
on their own.insurgence of settlers crossing the United States.
These animals are natural grazing animals, but inThey killed thousands of bison mainly for their hides.
Alaska, their food is only found along rivers and areasBefore this, the Plains Indians depended on bison for
where fires have burnt old vegetation growth andtheir food and hides. The Indians used the hides to
created fresh foliage. They eat various grasses, alsomake their clothes, their tents, etc. The bison had a
silverberry, willow and ground birch. Since Alaskangreat economical value for the Indians.
winters are extremely severe, it can be hard for theAlaska is proud of this big game animal and provides
bison to survive. Their thick layers of hair and plentyconservation to preserve their herds of bison, with
of stored fat are an advantage to them in survivingsome living on ranches and others in protected areas.