To determine whether a Bison is a Plains Bison or a Wood
Bison, a series of external characteristics are looked at. Wood Bison are generally taller and less sticky than
Plains Bison. A large Wood Bison can measure 1.8 m to the shoulder and weigh over
900 kg. The plains bison is usually smaller, has shorter legs and a heavier head and
hump. Both species have massive humped shoulders, a low slung head and what appear
to be disproportionately slender hindquarters. Males and females have short black
horns extending upward from the sides of the head. Plains Bison are lighter in
colour than Wood Bison. Both species have a long woolly undercoat overlain by long
guard hairs. Long, dark-brown, shaggy hair covers the head, shoulders and forelegs,
while the hair on the hindquarter is shorter and lighter in colour. A beard 20 - 30
cm long grows from the chin. During summer, Plains Bison develop a heavy coat or
"chaps" on their front legs which accounts for their massive front end
appearance. The tail of the Wood Bison seems longer and hairier that that of the
Plains Bison and finally, the hump on the Wood Bison is flatter and more angular than the
Plains Bison's.
Plains Bison
Bulls average 730 kg. (Cows, 410 kg)
Shorter Neck
More rounded hump
Smaller and Stockier
Chaps of long hair on forelegs
Cape is usually lighter in colour
In summer, cape forms distinct boundary with the rest of body
Frizzy hair on head
Large more rounded beard
Wood Bison
Largest Land mammal in North America
Bulls average 840 kg - 10 to 15 % heavier than Plains Bison (Cows, 475 kg)
Taller and squarer hump
Darker in colour
Generally taller and larger
Little or no chap hair on forelegs
Cape usually does not form distinct boundary with rest of body
