Bison bison athabascae

Wood Bison

FWS Focus

Overview

The Wood Bison is the largest Canadian terrestrial mammal. It is dark brown, with a massive head, a high hump on its large shoulders, and long shaggy hair on its shoulders and front legs. The short legs end in rounded hooves. The short and black horns curve inward on the males, but are straight on the females. There are two moults every year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The males are larger than the females; an adult male measures 3.04 to 3.8 m in length and 1.67 to 1.82 m in height (at the shoulders), and weighs between 350 and 1000 kg.

Scientific Name

Bison bison athabascae
Common Name
wood bison
FWS Category
Mammals
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

13 Items

Listing

Listing

Delisting

Delisting

Downlisting

NEPA - Scoping

Downlisting

Downlisting

Downlisting

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Delisting

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Five Year Review

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Listing

Apr 14, 1970

Apr 14, 1970 Listing (Endangered)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Endangered Species Conservation); 35 FR 6069
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 1

Listing

Jun 2, 1970

Jun 2, 1970 Listing (Endangered)
Part 17 - Conservation of Endangered Species and Other Fish or Wildlife (First List of Endangered Fo…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 2

Delisting

Nov 25, 1998

Nov 25, 1998 Delisting (Not Substantial)
ETWP; Notice of Finding on a Petition To Delist the Wood Bison From the List of Threatened and Endan…
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 3

Delisting

Apr 19, 1999

Apr 19, 1999 Delisting (Not Substantial)
Delete later
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 4

Downlisting

Feb 3, 2009

Feb 3, 2009 Downlisting (Substantial)
Petition To Reclassify the Wood Bison From Endangered to Threatened
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 5

NEPA - Scoping

Feb 25, 2010

Feb 25, 2010 NEPA - Scoping
Request for Scoping Comments and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Desi…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 6

Downlisting

Feb 8, 2011

Feb 8, 2011 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Reclassifying the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Under the Endangered Species Act as Threatened…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 7

Downlisting

Feb 8, 2011

Feb 8, 2011 Downlisting (Warranted)
Reclassifying the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) Under the Endangered Species Act as Threatened…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 8

Downlisting

May 3, 2012

May 3, 2012 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Reclassifying the Wood Bison Under the Endangered Species Act as Threatened Throughout Its Range: Fi…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 9

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Jan 18, 2013

Jan 18, 2013 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Proposed Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Wood Bison in Alaska
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 10

Delisting

Apr 19, 2013

Apr 19, 2013 Delisting (Not Substantial)
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Wood Bison
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 11

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

May 7, 2014

May 7, 2014 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Wood Bison in Alaska
  • Publication type: Final
Item 12

Five Year Review

Oct 23, 2018

Oct 23, 2018 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of a 5-Year Status Review of the Wood Bison; Notice, request for information
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 13