A herd at William S. Hart Regional Park traces its roots to 1962, when Walt Disney donated American Bison to the park. To discourage inbreeding, the County of Los Angeles has exchanged some of its animals with other facilities over the years, so the bison there today are not all related by blood to the original Disney herd. Often incorrectly called buffalo, bison are native to the Midwestern prairies and may live up to 40 years in captivity. In 2016, the American Bison was designated the national mammal of the United States. This herd retains many of its wild characteristics: a tail hanging down and swinging naturally indicates a calm animal, while a tail standing straight up can signal readiness to charge. Bison are highly unpredictable and can be dangerous, able to spin quickly, jump up to 6 feet, and run at speeds up to 35 mph. They have poor eyesight but excellent senses of smell and hearing. The largest North American mammals, bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, larger than grizzly bears, moose, or elk. They spend 9 to 11 hours foraging on grasses and weeds, consuming about 1.6 percent of their total body weight daily. When bison roll in the dirt, they are likely wallowing to shed flies and fur, and male bison also wallow during mating season to mask their scent and display strength. At birth, the young weigh about 30 pounds and have reddish-orange fur that turns dark brown as they mature.
