Can you tell the difference between a wood bison and a plains bison? Most people can’t.
For centuries, Buffalo have roamed North America, shaping the landscape and cultures of Indigenous peoples. While some refer to the animal as Buffalo and others as bison, in essence they are one and the same animal. However, there are two distinct subspecies that are difficult to tell apart at first glance.
Bison: One Species, Two Subspecies
When people talk about Buffalo in the American West, they are referring to a species called Bison bison. Extensive scientific research—including genetic and studies—has determined that our continent is in fact home to one species of bison comprising two distinct subspecies:
- Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) is the more common subspecies found throughout the lower 48 states.
- Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) is a larger subspecies found mainly in Canada and Alaska.
Though many people can’t tell the difference initially, these two subspecies have distinct characteristics that developed due to long-term geographic separation and adaptation to their different environments.
Plains Bison
Plains bison on Wind River Indian Reservation. Photo by Rocio Lower for Bezos Earth Fund.
The Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming is home to plains bison, which have several distinctive features:
- Stockier build with a more rounded hump
- Lighter coloration overall
- Frizzy, shaggier hair on the head
- Large, rounded beard
- The highest point of their hump is directly above the front legs
- A more prominent cape covers the upper portion of their bodies
Plains bison flourished in the southern regions and adapted to life on open grasslands. They are slightly smaller than their northern cousins, but males can still weigh up to 2,000 pounds. For comparison, that’s the combined weight of 130 average adult humans!
Plains bison tend to roar during the rut. Hear the bellow of a plains bison.
Wood Bison
Wood bison. Photo by Murray Foubister.
Wood bison adapted to northern climates and environments, developing several characteristics that distinguish them from plains bison:
- Heavier and taller with a square-shaped hump
- Darker coloration
- Smaller, more pointed beard
- The highest point of their hump is well ahead of the front legs
- Less defined shoulder capes and head hair
- The bone structure of their forward hump evolved to support muscles that help them sweep their heads through deep northern snow
Wood bison are the larger of the two subspecies, with bulls standing approximately 6 feet tall at the shoulder, measuring 10 feet long, and weighing more than 2,000 pounds. Females are smaller at around 1,200 pounds (similar to the weight of a grand piano).
Wood bison do not tend to roar during the rut, having different social interactions. Hear the bellow of a wood bison.
A Legacy from the Ice Age
The evolutionary story of modern bison stretches back hundreds of thousands of years:
- Steppe Bison (Bison priscus) migrated across the Bering land bridge during the Ice Age and became the most abundant large herbivores in North America. They’re ancestral to both modern bison subspecies.
- Giant Bison (Bison latifrons), better known as long-horned bison, roamed the Great Plains for over 200,000 years during the Pleistocene Epoch. Their impressive horns stretched up to seven feet from tip to tip, and they weighed about 50% more than modern bison.
- Ancient Bison (Bison antiquus) lived in North America during the Late Pleistocene, from over 60,000 years ago until around 10,000 years ago. It was one of the most common large herbivores of its time and is the direct ancestor of today’s American bison.
Photo from allaboutbison.com
Cultural Significance
For Indigenous peoples of North America, particularly those of the Great Plains, the Buffalo has been at the center of physical and spiritual life. Since time immemorial, Plains Tribes have relied on Buffalo for nearly every aspect of survival: food, clothing, shelter, tools and ceremony.
At the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, we believe that Buffalo recovery isn’t just about conservation—it’s also about cultural revitalization and land rematriation. When the Buffalo were nearly exterminated in the 19th century, it threatened not just a species but also our natural surroundings and entire way of life.
Buffalo Revival
Today, efforts to restore both subspecies of bison are in motion across North America. Wood bison, which nearly disappeared from Alaska and Canada several hundred years ago, are being reintroduced to their former ranges (it’s estimated that roughly 4,700 wood bison roam in Canada). Here at Wind River, we envision one day thousands of conservation Buffalo living as wildlife, protected under Tribal law.
In understanding the rich diversity and history of both types of Buffalo, we deepen our appreciation for their significance—both ecological and cultural. The Buffalo is not just a symbol of our past, but an essential part of our shared future. Learn more about healing with Buffalo.