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American Bison (Bison bison) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

American Bison (Bison bison)

Husbandry

Breeding

  • An estimated 1 million bison on private ranches and farms in North America. (Marris 2009)
  • Bred for reintroduction program in Alaska (Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center 2018)
  • Bison and domestic cattle can interbreed, producing infertile offspring. (Grizmeck 1990) 
  • Some 65 Plains Bison have been kept at the San Diego Zoo since the first two arrived in 1925. (Towne 1976)
  • 14 bison from the San Diego Zoo were released in 1973 at the Marine Corps base Camp Pendelton in southern California (Towne 1976) and still roam free today.

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