Iceage Bison

Fossil ice age bison, often referred to as Bison antiquus, were large, shaggy mammals that roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch, between about 2 million and 10,000 years ago. They were ancestors of the modern American bison but were larger and had slightly different horn shapes. Fossil remains of these ancient bison have been found across North America, from Mexico to Alaska. Ice age bison were well-adapted to the cold, harsh environments of the Pleistocene, with their thick fur and large bodies. They were herbivores, feeding on grasses and other vegetation. The extinction of ice age bison, along with many other large mammals of the Pleistocene, is thought to be linked to climate change and human hunting pressure. Studying fossil ice age bison helps scientists understand the ecology and evolution of these iconic animals.