The bison, often referred to as the buffalo, is the largest land mammal in North America. A fully grown buffalo can weigh a ton, stand six feet tall, and run as fast as 35 miles an hour. Long ago, millions of these mighty buffalo roamed the plains, prairies, and river valleys, terraforming the Great Plains with their hoofprints. Today, wild buffalo roam in and around America’s National Parks, where they are protected.