Pet Bison Quiz
So you want a pet bison? Maybe you took a trip to Yellowstone Park once and were fascinated by the shaggy beasts roaming the land. efore you bring home this bovine, how about taking this quiz?
Question 2 of 9
True or false: It's easy to tame a bison?
... According to the Bison Producers of Alberta, bison are difficult to tame, and even some who are bottle-raised by humans never completely learn to trust them. While some pet bison have been known to become comfortable with a human petting them, many, even the bottle-fed variety, are fearful of that kind of affection.
Question 3 of 9
True or false: Bison never attack.
... Bison are difficult to tame, and bison in the wild will attack if provoked. Also, considering how bulky they are, bison are very agile. As you can imagine, all of this adds up to potentially risky business for human-bison interaction. Visitors to Yellowstone National Park, where bison roam, are advised to stay far away from the animals so as not to provoke or frighten them into an attack.
Question 4 of 9
True or false: If left to their own devices, bison prefer a solitary existence.
... If your idea of owning a pet bison is to keep one (and only one) in your backyard, you may be in for a rude awakening. Bison prefer to hang around in herds with other bison, according to the Bison Producers of Alberta. In fact, they have such a strong herd instinct that they've been known to tear through a fence in search of bison companions.
Question 5 of 9
Could you keep a bison in your garage in the winter?
... At approximately 10 to 12.5 feet (3 to 3.6 meters) in length, a bison would fit in the typical American two-car garage. But bison prefer to be outdoors year-round, according to the National Bison Association.
Question 6 of 9
To which of these human diseases are bison vulnerable?
... Overall, for livestock, bison are pretty disease resistant. However, they are vulnerable to tuberculosis and anthrax, in addition to malignant catarrhal fever, brucellosis, and numerous parasites, according to the NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Web site.
Question 7 of 9
How much does a bison weigh?
... Sure, Canadian Jim Sautner drives around with his 1,600-pound pet bison in the back seat of his car. But for most people, a bison isn't the most portable pet in the world. It's the largest land mammal in North America, weighing between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds (408 to 907 kilograms), with males weighing generally more than females, according the National Park Service.
Question 8 of 9
True or false: If your bison breaks down the fence and runs away to find a herd, it'll be a cinch to catch up to him on foot.
... It's pretty much impossible for a human to catch a running bison, since they can hit speeds of 35 miles per hour (56.3 kilometers per hour), says Dave Salmoni, an animal expert for the Animal Planet network. That's much faster than even a world-class human sprinter can run.
Question 9 of 9
How long would you have to care for your pet bison?
... Making a bison your pet can be a very long-term commitment. A bison can live to the ripe old age of 40 in captivity, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web site.
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