Alaska - Bison Big Game Animal

The American bison is one of several big gametemperatures. In fact, strong winter winds tend
animals in Alaska. The bison was transplanted toto benefit the bison, as the winds will blow the
Alaska from Montana in 1928, after becomingsnow, preventing it from accumulating and
almost extinct in America. Twenty of thesebecoming too deep. The healthy bison usually
animals were delivered to an area around Deltasurvives the winters.They migrate to a winter
Junction and by 1985 the population had grown torange in the northwest around Farewell Lake,
approximately 700.The bison is a spectacularwhere there are many small rivers and ponds
animal in size, measuring six feet at the shoulders,with vegetation available for them to eat. They
almost ten feet long and weighing over a ton. Theare able to smell food beneath deep snow and
head and front quarters are the largest part ofthey use their huge bodies to push the snow
the body, making this section look out ofaway to get to the food.Bison hunts have to be
proportion to the hind quarters, which arecontrolled to prevent the population from
smaller.The bison sheds its coat in the spring ofoverburdening the limited range areas. Hunting
the year, after winter is over. Then, in the fall, itbison is a challenge, as stalking them is difficult;
grows its winter coat, which is a rich, dark brownand bringing them down also is quite a feat. They
color. The coat changes color during the winterare the hardest of all Alaska's big game to bring
and by spring is a lighter color. Bison bulls havedown. Their meat tastes much like beef and is
large, heavy horns that curve upward. Cows'delicious to eat.Bears and wolves are predators of
horns are lighter and not as large.Calves are bornbison calves, but usually do not have much luck,
anytime from May to August and at first have aas the adult bison will fight to protect the calves.
brownish red coat. At ten weeks old, thisAll predators will leave adult bison alone, because
brownish red coat starts to darken and about fiveof their size, which intimidates and their large
weeks later, turns to the dark brown color. Theyhorns, which they use to fight with, and can easily
are very active almost immediately after birth,kill another animal. They are second only to the
being able to run and kick their hind legs up in theblack bear for viciousness towards any
air about three hours after birth. They also beginthreatening creature.Approximately sixty million
grazing at an early age - about six days old. Theybison roamed the Great Plains from Mexico to
will stay with their mother, following her until theCanada and north into Alaska up until the nineteen
next spring, when they are about a year old,century. Then came the insurgence of settlers
before they venture out on their own.Thesecrossing the United States. They killed thousands
animals are natural grazing animals, but in Alaska,of bison mainly for their hides. Before this, the
their food is only found along rivers and areasPlains Indians depended on bison for their food
where fires have burnt old vegetation growth andand hides. The Indians used the hides to make
created fresh foliage. They eat various grasses,their clothes, their tents, etc. The bison had a
also silverberry, willow and ground birch. Sincegreat economical value for the Indians.Alaska is
Alaskan winters are extremely severe, it can beproud of this big game animal and provides
hard for the bison to survive. Their thick layers ofconservation to preserve their herds of bison,
hair and plenty of stored fat are an advantage towith some living on ranches and others in
them in surviving the cold winds andprotected areas.