All Animals

Animal Guide

Plains Bison

57 destinations · 27 states

Native Range
Great Plains of North America

Plains bison can seem almost still at first, but spend a few minutes watching and the details start to add up. A bull may lower its massive head to graze, roll in the dust, or wander over to investigate another bison. Their shaggy front half is especially striking, with a thick mane that gives the animal its heavy, humped appearance. In warmer weather, bison often shed loose winter fur in ragged patches, creating a surprisingly scruffy look. Calves are easier to spot among the adults, usually with lighter coats and plenty of energy for short bursts of running and play. That contrast between enormous adults and lively young animals is often a highlight for families. Bison also communicate through posture, grunts, and subtle movements, so a herd can feel much more active than it first appears. Watching them graze together offers a glimpse of how these powerful animals once shaped the open grasslands of North America.

Plains Bison

Where to see Plains Bison

57 destinations across 27 states

57 destinations

Aloha Safari Park

Cameron, NC

Amarillo Zoo

Amarillo, TX

Bergen County Zoo

Paramus, NJ

Bramble Park Zoo

Watertown, SD

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Cameron Park Zoo

Waco, TX

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Cape May Court House, NJ

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

St Paul, MN

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Bridgeport, CT

David Traylor Zoo of Emporia

Emporia, KS

Elmwood Park Zoo

Norristown, PA

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo

Rome, NY

Gone Wild Safari

Pineville, LA

Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo

Great Bend, KS

Hutchinson Zoo

Hutchinson, KS

Irvine Park Zoo

Chippewa Falls, WI

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park

Halifax, PA

Lehigh Valley Zoo

Schnecksville, PA

Living Desert Zoo

Carlsbad, NM

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe, LA

Lupa Zoo

Ludlow, MA

Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo

Manitowoc, WI

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery, AL

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

San Antonio, TX

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

Green Bay, WI

North Carolina Zoo

Asheboro, NC

North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari

Cleveland, GA

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Eatonville, WA

Oakland Zoo

Oakland, CA

Olympic Game Farm

Sequim, WA

Pine Grove Zoo

Little Falls, MN

Plumpton Park Zoo

Rising Sun, MD

Potawatomi Zoo

South Bend, IN

Pueblo Zoo

Pueblo, CO

Queens Zoo

Corona, NY

Ralph Mitchell Zoo

Independence, KS

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence, RI

Roosevelt Park Zoo

Minot, ND

Salisbury Zoological Park

Salisbury, MD

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Shalom Wildlife Zoo

West Bend, WI

Spring River Zoo

Roswell, NM

The Farm At Walnut Creek

Sugarcreek, OH

The Wilds

Cumberland, OH

Virginia Safari Park

Natural Bridge, VA

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Wild Animal Safari

Pine Mountain, GA

Wild Country Safari Park

Delhi, LA

Wildlife Safari Park

Ashland, NE

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Wildwood Zoo

Marshfield, WI

Zollman Zoo

Byron, MN

Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center

Springfield, MA

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