| The American bison is one of several big game | | | | temperatures. In fact, strong winter winds tend |
| animals in Alaska. The bison was transplanted to | | | | to benefit the bison, as the winds will blow the |
| Alaska from Montana in 1928, after becoming | | | | snow, preventing it from accumulating and |
| almost extinct in America. Twenty of these | | | | becoming too deep. The healthy bison usually |
| animals were delivered to an area around Delta | | | | survives the winters.They migrate to a winter |
| Junction and by 1985 the population had grown to | | | | range in the northwest around Farewell Lake, |
| approximately 700.The bison is a spectacular | | | | where 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. The | | | | are able to smell food beneath deep snow and |
| head and front quarters are the largest part of | | | | they use their huge bodies to push the snow |
| the body, making this section look out of | | | | away to get to the food.Bison hunts have to be |
| proportion to the hind quarters, which are | | | | controlled to prevent the population from |
| smaller.The bison sheds its coat in the spring of | | | | overburdening the limited range areas. Hunting |
| the year, after winter is over. Then, in the fall, it | | | | bison is a challenge, as stalking them is difficult; |
| grows its winter coat, which is a rich, dark brown | | | | and bringing them down also is quite a feat. They |
| color. The coat changes color during the winter | | | | are the hardest of all Alaska's big game to bring |
| and by spring is a lighter color. Bison bulls have | | | | down. 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 born | | | | bison calves, but usually do not have much luck, |
| anytime from May to August and at first have a | | | | as the adult bison will fight to protect the calves. |
| brownish red coat. At ten weeks old, this | | | | All predators will leave adult bison alone, because |
| brownish red coat starts to darken and about five | | | | of their size, which intimidates and their large |
| weeks later, turns to the dark brown color. They | | | | horns, 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 the | | | | black bear for viciousness towards any |
| air about three hours after birth. They also begin | | | | threatening creature.Approximately sixty million |
| grazing at an early age - about six days old. They | | | | bison roamed the Great Plains from Mexico to |
| will stay with their mother, following her until the | | | | Canada 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.These | | | | crossing 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 areas | | | | Plains Indians depended on bison for their food |
| where fires have burnt old vegetation growth and | | | | and 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. Since | | | | great economical value for the Indians.Alaska is |
| Alaskan winters are extremely severe, it can be | | | | proud of this big game animal and provides |
| hard for the bison to survive. Their thick layers of | | | | conservation to preserve their herds of bison, |
| hair and plenty of stored fat are an advantage to | | | | with some living on ranches and others in |
| them in surviving the cold winds and | | | | protected areas. |