Species MammalsWood Bison

Wood Bison

Bison bison athabascae

RareMammal
Illustration of Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae)
Safety note: Dangerous — observe from a safe distance.

The Wood Bison is the largest land animal in North America, larger and more massive than the plains bison, with a higher hump and darker, shaggier pelage. It was reduced to fewer than 300 individuals by 1957 and was considered functionally extinct until a pure remnant population was discovered in Wood Buffalo National Park. Conservation programs have restored the wood bison to approximately 7,000 individuals in northern Canada and Alaska.

Habitat
Boreal forests, meadows, and riparian flats of northern Canada
Diet
Grasses, sedges, and willows
How common
Rare

Recent Wood Bison sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Wood Bison? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More mammals

Abert's Squirrel
Abert's Squirrel
Sciurus aberti
Agricola's Gracile Opossum
Agricola's Gracile Opossum
Cryptonanus agricolai
Alaska Marmot
Alaska Marmot
Marmota broweri
Alaska Peninsula Brown Bear
Alaska Peninsula Brown Bear
Ursus arctos gyas
Alaskan Hare
Alaskan Hare
Lepus othus
Alaskan Mink
Alaskan Mink
Neogale vison ingens
Alfaro's Pygmy Squirrel
Alfaro's Pygmy Squirrel
Microsciurus alfari
Allen's Big-eared Bat
Allen's Big-eared Bat
Idionycteris phyllotis