European Bison

The European bison, or wisent, is the largest native land mammal of Europe and historically ranged across forested and open woodland regions of Europe and the Caucasus. Mature bulls generally weigh about 1,300–2,000 pounds, while cows usually weigh about 700–1,200 pounds. They are brown, tall-shouldered, horned, and somewhat less massive in the forequarters than American bison, with longer legs and a more forest-adapted build. European bison are grazing and browsing herd animals that survived through captive conservation and reintroduction programs. In the United States, they are uncommon and have been kept mainly in zoos, conservation collections, and specialized private herds since the 20th century.