Name. Buffalo or bison? What's the difference? A big one, actually: American bison are not related to Asia's water buffalo, and Africa's ferocious Cape buffalo, and are only distantly related to the European buffalo, called Wisent. However, early settlers called America's bison "bufello" and the name has stuck.

Size. How big is a bison? Try 2,000 pounds for an adult male. Now imagine an entire herd of these giants -- hundreds, even thousands strong! It's easy to see how their migrations could wear huge paths in the land. Later settlers would call these paths a "trace" and found them convenient wagon roads. Today, many of our modern highways follow the path of a bison trace.

Behavior. If you visit us in person, you may notice large, worn places in the land, polished rocks and worn away trees. These are "wallows," areas where bison have enjoyed a good roll when shedding their winter coats or given themselves a good scratch. Because of their size, such behaviors can actually be quite destructive on the landscape.

Horns. Bison horns, unlike deer and elk antlers, are made of a substance similar to hair. Unlike antlers, horns are slow growing and are permanent. They are grown in yearly "rings" which signify an animal's age.

Party Down, Dudes. A "stamping ground" was the term used for a large salt lick where herds of bison had trampled the undergrowth and soil for huge distances. These areas were quite prominent gathering spots for all kinds of wildlife. Today we see traces of Kentucky's wild past in such place names as Stamping Ground, a town north of Lexington.

Speed. Although they may look fat and lazy, bison can actually run as fast as 35 mph -- three times faster than a human. Bison are very unpredictable animals, despite their docile appearance, and have been known to charge at humans and vehicles without warning. If you visit us in person, stay in your vehicle when wildlife is present!