Bison
K8E Catalina is a Bison or an American Buffalo. As a calf she was removed from Catalina Island as part of a program to bring fresh blood into the herd. For every bison removed, another was brought in from South Dakota. K8E (pronounced Kay-tee) is extremely docile and enjoys visitors to the ranch. Because K8E is a wild, undomesticated animal we do not allow anyone to touch her.
During the 1700's and 1800's, millions of bison were killed in order to force the Native Americans onto reservations. Herds that were so massive that they were impossible to count were driven to the brink of extinction. The bison have recovered but are limited to a few protected areas. Bison living in Yellowstone are often shot by ranchers when they cross an invisible line that marks the park boundary.
Bison Facts
- A male is called a bull, a female is called a cow
- An adult can weigh between 800 and 2000 pounds
- A bull can stand 6'5" at the hump
- Bison can run at speed of 35 miles per hour
- As many as 60,000,000 bison once roamed the great plains.