Bison are known for their distinctive coat color. The most common hue is dark brown, often appearing almost black. This coloration allows them to blend into natural habitats, from grasslands to forests.
The Predominant Color and Its Shades
Most American bison display a deep brown coat, ranging to brownish-black, prominent on their massive heads, shaggy shoulders, and strong forelegs. This dark shade provides excellent camouflage. The front of the animal is typically darker and more heavily furred, while hindquarters and flanks often feature slightly lighter, shorter brown hair.
Dense, shaggy fur covers much of a bison’s body, creating varying shades and depth. This thick insulation is noticeable on the head and shoulders, giving these areas a pronounced, almost black appearance. The combination of long and short hair creates a complex coat within the dominant brown spectrum.
Factors Influencing Bison Coloration
A bison’s coat color varies due to age, seasonal changes, and environmental conditions. Newborn calves are born with a lighter, reddish-orange or reddish-tan coat, nicknamed “red dogs.” This lighter coloration gradually darkens to the characteristic brown of adults over two to three months.
Seasonal transitions also play a role. Bison develop a thick, darker winter coat for insulation against cold temperatures, shed in spring to reveal a lighter, shorter summer coat. External factors like rolling in dust or mud (wallowing) can temporarily alter their fur’s perceived color. Genetic variations can lead to subtle shade differences, such as lighter “blond” tones or exceptionally deep black fur.
Rare Color Variations
While brown is standard, rare color variations occur, most notably “white bison.” These light-colored individuals are not typically albino (a complete lack of melanin resulting in pink or red eyes). Instead, most white bison are leucistic, a genetic condition causing reduced fur pigmentation but usually allowing for normal eye and nose coloration, often dark or blue.
True albino bison are exceedingly rare, estimated at one in ten million births. White bison, especially leucistic ones, hold significant cultural and spiritual importance for many Native American tribes, symbolizing purity and renewal. Some light-colored bison may also result from crossbreeding with white domestic cattle, or a rare genetic trait causing calves to be born white and later turn brown, distinguishing them from consistent leucistic forms.