Watch a Massive Bison Kick a Chasing Wolf Straight In The Face

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: October 20, 2023
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When most of us watch videos of predators chasing prey, it is the prey that we feel sorry for. However, it is a mistake to think of a predator as an invincible foe and the prey as a helpless victim. Nature is not as straightforward as that.

Even the most skilled predators can and do take considerable risks when they are hunting prey, and many preyed-upon animals fight back.

When they do fight back, it hurts – a lot!

Witness the Whole Video Below:

Bison Feeding and Lifestyle

Bison herd in Yellowstone National Park

Bison eat 24 pounds of vegetables a day.

©iStock.com/Betty4240

Because they are such large animals, bison need a lot of food to keep them going. To be precise, they need to consume 1.6 percent of their body mass in food per day. That equates to around 24 pounds of vegetation! Therefore, grazing is important for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

They are described as ‘nomadic’ herbivores, which means that they move around to find the best feeding locations. Their diet is mainly made up of grass, but they also eat flowering shrubs and some tree leaves. As well as wolves, they are preyed on by bears. In the middle of an open field, they are sitting ducks to fierce predators.

When Prey Fights Back

Gray wolf is visible in the right frame, facing left. The wolf's mouth is open exposing its long canine teeth.

American bison only have 2 predators besides humans: bears and wolves.

©AB Photographie/Shutterstock.com

Sometimes prey fights back, and this is illustrated perfectly by the experience of this wolf chasing a herd of bison. This particular bison is not only trying to run away – it is delivering some hefty kicks in the direction of its pursuers.

Bison (also sometimes called American buffalo) are large and powerful animals. They live primarily in North America (although they are also found in Europe and Russia), and their name is rooted in Latin, Proto-German, and Middle English – it means ‘wild ox’, and this one was certainly wild!

Is It Normal For Bison To Defend Themselves?

Two alpha male Bison Head-butting for dominance of the heard, horns locked together in battle on a grassy field with blue skies.

Bison can use their formidable size and horns to defend themselves.

©Grey Mountain Photo/Shutterstock.com

Their sheer size is one of their defense characteristics against attack. Bison can reach around 2,500 pounds in weight and nine feet in length – they are around six feet tall. Bison live in herds because there is safety in numbers, and this helps to put off predators.

Both the males and females have horns that can grow to two feet in length, and, as we see here, they have a hefty kick! Bison are often very placid, but they can become aggressive when threatened.

They can run at 35 miles per hour and can change direction remarkably quickly for such a large animal! All of this means that they can be quite a challenge for even the most skilled wolf.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Tim Malek/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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