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How long does a American bison last?

Typical lifespan
15–25 yr

The heaviest land animal in the Americas; commonly called a buffalo, though true buffalo live in Africa and Asia.

How that compares

American bison against things of a similar time.

American bison 15–25 yr
Giant panda 15–30 yr
Bald eagle 15–38 yr
Spotted hyena 12–25 yr
Cow 15–25 yr
Red kangaroo 12–25 yr
American black bear 18–30 yr
Plains zebra 12–25 yr

What that means over time

Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.
Period How many you would buy
Per year 0.05 replacements
Over 10 years 1 of them
Over a 30-year mortgage 1.5 of them

Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

More about an American bison

Common questions

How long does an American bison last?
An American bison lasts 15–25 yr.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked