Interesting Difference Between A Wyoming Bison And A Buffalo

It's a common mistake that isn't a big deal, but I've heard people make it. Calling an American Bison a Buffalo.

French fur trappers in the US in the early 1600s saw the bison and began calling them buffalo. That name stuck in the years that passed, but technically, in the US, buffalo swim underwater and don't roam on land.

The significant differences between Bison and Buffalo.

Both the bison and the buffalo are large creatures; one is the largest mammal in the US, and the other is the largest of the North American Sucker Fish.

Bison live to be about 20 years old on average, while buffalo can live to be over 100 years old.

Bison have horns and a large fatty hump on their backs. Buffalo have fins and weird sucker mouths.

Some similarities exist between the two.

Bison eat grasses, weeds, and plants. Buffalo eat the vegetation from the bottom of the water they live in by sucking it up.

Bison make up large herds during breeding season. Buffalo forms large schools that move together during the spawning season.

Both species are edible and quite enjoyable to consume.

The US Fish and Wildlife Department has been answering questions about the difference between the American Bison and Buffalo lately and wanted to ensure everyone knows what's different.

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It's always a good idea to be informed of the facts and stay at least 25 yards away from the American Bison. They can and will mess you up if you're not careful.