American Bison - Super Teacher Worksheets

Name:American BisonBy Guy BellerantiPeople often use the words “bison” and“buffalo” to mean the same animal. However,true buffalo are the Asian water buffalo and theAfrican (Cape) buffalo. Their horns form hugesweeping curves. The American bison, and itscousin the European bison, have shorter curvedhorns. In addition, unlike buffalo, bison havebeards and huge muscular humps on theirshoulders. Still, although bison aren’t buffalo, thetwo are related. They belong to the same familyof animals as cattle, goats, and sheep.Let’s look closer at the American bison.Bison are the heaviest land animals in NorthAmerica. Some bulls, or male bison, weigh 2,000pounds. Bison often live and travel in herds. Formost of the year, bulls are separate from the cows, or female bison, and their calves. Insummer’s breeding season, bulls join the female herds. Bulls fight each other fordominance. They bellow, shove, and butt heads. They also roll in the dirt to show strengthand to leave their scent.Usually only one calf is born to a mother bison. It has red-orange fur and weighsabout 50 pounds. After a few months, the calf’s hair begins turning dark brown. Its hornsand shoulder hump begin to grow too.And speaking of the hump – it supports the bison’s huge head. In winter, these furrybeasts use their heads like snow plows, swinging them from side-to-side to clear pathwaysand uncover vegetation to eat. Bison are grazers, which means they prefer eatingSuper Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

grasses. They also eat sagebrush,berries, and other plants. Like cows,they have four-chambered stomachsand bring food back up to theirmouths to chew again.At one time millions of bisonroamed the plains, prairies, and rivervalleys. However, by the late 1800’s,bison were almost extinct, killed off bysettlers. Those that remained wereprimarily in Yellowstone National Park. Conservationists, Native American nations,ranchers, and the government began working to protect them. Yellowstone is still thebest place to see them. They’re also in state parks and preserves. Some ranches raisebison for their meat.In May 2016, the American bison was named the National Mammal of the UnitedStates. It joins another one-time almost extinct animal, the bald eagle, as official symbolsof the United States.A few more bison facts: Bison were important to Native Americans. Not only did they provide food,clothing, shelter, and tools, but they were important in cultural ceremonies. Bison have poor eyesight. However, their hearing and sense of smell isexcellent. Although huge, bison are very agile and fast. They can run 35 miles an hour!About the AuthorGuy Belleranti is an author of fiction, poetry, articles, puzzles, and humor forchildren and adults. He also works as a docent at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson,Arizona. The information in this article comes from his experiences teachingchildren about the wild animals at the zoo.Super Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

Name:American BisonBy Guy Belleranti1.According to the article, what is unusual about the digestivesystems of American bison?2.Complete the Venn Diagram below to show the differences andsimilarities between American bison and buffalo. List two differences and one similarity.American BisonBuffaloBoth3.Based on the information in the article, which event in American history wiped out most ofthe American bison?4.a. the arrival of the Pilgrimsb. the American Revolutionary Warc. the westward movement of the settlersd. the American Civil WarName one place you could go today to see an American bison in the wild.Super Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

Name:American BisonBy Guy BellerantiMatch each vocabulary word from the reading passage with thecorrect definition.1. bellowa. female bison2. extinctb. able to move quickly and easily3. sagebrushc. a wild ox with large sweeping horns foundmostly in Africa and Asia4. dominanced. male bison5. conservationistse. no longer in existence6. agilef. roar loudly, aggressively7. preservesg. people who advocate for the protection ofnature and wildlife8. cowsh. a shrub in North American similar to a daisyand eaten by bison9. bullsi. areas set aside for wild animals to live insafety10. buffaloj. power and influence over othersSuper Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

Name:American BisonBy Guy BellerantiIn the article, “American Bison,” you learned that there used to bemillions of bison roaming the plains of the American West, but themovement of settlers into their territories caused most of them to bewiped out.Choose another animal species that was affected by humansettlement. You can describe an example from the past or thepresent. In your answer, be sure to describe how human activity hasharmed that animal species. Make one suggestion how we canprotect the remaining members of that species today.Super Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

ANSWER KEYAmerican Bison1.By Guy BellerantiAccording to the article, what is unusual about the digestive systemsof American bison?American Bison have four-chambered stomachs and theybring their food back up to chew it again.2.Complete the Venn Diagram below to show the differences and similarities betweenAmerican bison and buffalo. List two differences and one similarity.American BisonBuffaloBoth1.) Shorter, curved horns1.) Belong to thesame family2.) Beards and muscularhumps on their shoulders3.1.) Longer, sweeping horns2.) No beards or muscularhumps on their shouldersBased on the information in the article, which event in American history wiped out most ofthe American bison? c.4.a. the arrival of the Pilgrimsb. the American Revolutionary Warc. the westward movement of the settlersd. the American Civil WarName one place you could go today to see an American bison in the wild.Yellowstone National Park, state parks, ranches, preservesSuper Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

American BisonBy Guy BellerantiMatch each vocabulary word from the reading passage with thecorrect definition.f. 1. bellowa. female bisone. 2. extinctb. able to move quickly and easilyh. 3. sagebrushc. a wild ox with large sweeping horns foundmostly in Africa and Asiaj. 4. dominanced. male bisong. 5. conservationistse. no longer in existenceb. 6. agilef. roar loudly, aggressivelyi. 7. preservesg. people who advocate for the protection ofnature and wildlifea. 8. cowsh. a shrub in North American similar to a daisyand eaten by bisond. 9. bullsi. areas set aside for wild animals to live insafetyc. 10. buffaloj. power and influence over othersSuper Teacher Worksheets -www.superteacherworksheets.com

American Bison Buffalo Both 3. Based on the information in the article, which event in American history wiped out most of the American bison? a. the arrival of the Pilgrims b. the American Revolutionary War c. the westward movement of the settlers d. the American Civil War 4. Name one place you could go today to see an American bison in the wild.