Alaska Wildlife/bison

Alaska Wildlife

bison_bull.jpg - Bison bull in a free ranging herd along the Alaska Highway just east of Coal River, Yukon. The Bison is North America's largest native land mammal. Bulls stand up to six feet tall at the shoulder, 10 feet long from nose to tail, and can weigh more than a ton. The Plains bison (seen here) are not native to Alaska or northwest Canada. Twenty-three of these shaggy beasts were brought to Fairbanks in 1928 and released near Delta Junction. Since then, that herd has grown to 475 animals, making it one of the largest free-ranging buffalo herds in the world. Animals from the Delta herd have been used to start other herds, like the one this beauty boy belongs to. There were at least 100 head of bison in this herd and except for one with a “bum” leg (it appeared a rear leg had been broken and healed badly), all the members appeared healthy.

Bison bull in a free ranging herd along the Alaska Highway just east of Coal River, Yukon. The Bison is North America's largest native land mammal. Bulls stand up to six feet tall at the shoulder, 10 feet long from nose to tail, and can weigh more than a ton. The Plains bison (seen here) are not native to Alaska or northwest Canada. Twenty-three of these shaggy beasts were brought to Fairbanks in 1928 and released near Delta Junction. Since then, that herd has grown to 475 animals, making it one of the largest free-ranging buffalo herds in the world. Animals from the Delta herd have been used to start other herds, like the one this beauty boy belongs to. There were at least 100 head of bison in this herd and except for one with a “bum” leg (it appeared a rear leg had been broken and healed badly), all the members appeared healthy.

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