Bison are some of the toughest creatures in the Animal Kingdom.
They might not be the best at avoiding attacks from predators, but when its just them versus nature, bison are built to last. Whether they’re facing temperatures or cold temperatures, the 2,000 pound beasts can adapt to and overcome nearly any weather you throw at them.
And though appearance doesn’t matter much out in the wild, I do have to point out that any picture or video of a bison battling through snow looks badass. Bison standing strong in 50 MPH blizzard conditions? That’s sick. A rare white bison majestically thundering down an icy road? Priceless. Or what about a bison casually walking around in negative 37 degrees? There’s really nothing like them.
You’ve possibly already heard about how bison handle snowstorms, but for those that haven’t, lean in for one second. While other animals will walk away from heavy blizzards, bison have been observed walking right into the direction these storms are coming from. It’s believed that they instinctively do this, knowing that trudging right into the wind will cut down on the time they spend in the storm.
A bison’s coat also thickens up as it heads into the winter season to counter the frigid temperatures and blankets of snow that often fall in their North Americans habitats. Their wooly coats play an intricate role in keeping them warm through the winter, and allegedly create such a layer of insulation that snow that lands on their coat will not melt from the heat the bison’s skin gives off.
They’re basically just natural-born snow plows, though they prefer to not waste energy in cold temperatures if they don’t have to. That’s why bison can often be seen walking in single-file line when there’s dense snow layered on the frozen ground. Yellowstone National Park even shared a post recently about why bison will choose to “stay in formation” when traveling through blanketed snow:
“As autumn shifts to winter, Yellowstone’s snow brings a rare chance to see wildlife adapt: bison plow single-file to save energy, while wolves stay higher in snow thanks to their foot-to-weight ratio. Whatever you see, give them space – their survival depends on it.”
As autumn shifts to winter, Yellowstone’s snow brings a rare chance to see wildlife adapt: bison plow single-file to save energy, while wolves stay higher in snow thanks to their foot-to-weight ratio. Whatever you see, give them space—their survival depends on it. pic.twitter.com/cZH5ohVj7F
— Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) November 16, 2024
How cool is that?
It’s also crazy to think that a wolf can walk on top of the snow, while a bison will sink all the way down to the actual ground due to its sheer amount of weight. The two species do have 1,900 pound weight difference, so that’s a case where the “math is actually mathing.”
If you happen to be intrigued by the topic of bison battling snow, I recommend that you check out this clip from Epic Yellowstone. The video explains in detail how the behemoths are able to survive the wintry weather, and how their heads are perfect for plowing paths in the snow. It’s truly fascinating to see just how well suited bison are to cold temperatures and copious wintry precipitation.
Go ahead and try to find an animal that looks more majestic and/or intimidating in the snow:
With a dense coat, a powerful mass of muscle, and a large head ideally suited for clearing away snow and locating buried grass, bison are built for frigid conditions in Yellowstone.
🎥Epic Yellowstone pic.twitter.com/MuT9NTkLQD— Smithsonian Channel (@SmithsonianChan) December 3, 2021
