The amount of land that you have for your farm is going to dictate how many bison you can have. About 5 acres of land can support one or two fully grown bison. For a full herd, you may need to look at a purchase of land that is 100 acres or more.

Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming boasts the only place in America where bison have thrived since prehistoric times, according to the U.S. Department of Interior. Today there are about 4,900, the largest herd on public lands.

Of the two surviving species, the American bison, B. bison, found only in North America, is the more numerous. Although commonly referred to as a buffalo in the United States and Canada, it is only distantly related to the true buffalo.

Live bison typically cost $2,500 to $5,000 per animal, depending on age, weight, and other characteristics.

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, buffalo and bison are distinct animals. Old World “true” buffalo (Cape buffalo and water buffalo) are native to Africa and Asia. Bison are found in North America and Europe. Both bison and buffalo are in the bovidae family, but the two are not closely related.

Bison are among the most dangerous animals encountered by visitors to the various North American national parks and will attack humans if provoked. They appear slow because of their lethargic movements, but can easily outrun humans; bison have been observed running as fast as 65 km/h (40 mph) for 8 km (5 mi).

The animal “may have been approached all day long … eventually the animal reaches its breaking point and charges people.” According to a 2000 study, Yellowstone’s bison are actually more dangerous than its bears. The study found that bison had charged people 81 times over 22 years, killing two.

There are some clear signs that a bison is agitated and might attack, though. Watch for them and retreat as quickly as possible when you notice agitation….Bison warning signs include:

1. Snorting.
2. Shaking or tossing of its head.
3. Pawing the ground.
4. Raising its tail.
5. Bluff charges.

Bison have been integral to tribal culture, providing them with food, clothing, fuel, tools, shelter and spiritual value. Established in 1992, the Inter Tribal Buffalo Council works with the National Park Service to transfer bison from national park lands to tribal lands. The National Bison Range in Montana.