Skip to main content
Skip to "About government"
Language selection
Français
Government of Canada /
Gouvernement du Canada
Search
Search website
Search
You are here:
Canada.ca
Parks Canada
National parks
Elk Island National Park
Science and nature
Over a century of bison conservation in Elk Island National Park
Multimedia gallery
Baby bison in Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park
Bison Photo Gallery
Wood Bison Handling
Female bison will gestate for approximately 9 months after conception during the summer rut (mating season).
© Parks Canada
Close
Baby bison are typically born in May and June but calving can start as early as April and might extend into October depending on seasonal conditions.
© Parks Canada
Close
When Ready to give birth a female bison will leave the herd for a short period. She will return when the new born bison is ready to walk and run.
© Parks Canada
Close
A baby bison can stand on its own 30 minutes after being born and will begin to walk and run after only 2 – 3 hours.
© Parks Canada
Close
At only 4 – 6 hours old bison calves will begin to taste their first samples of grass. However they will receive most of their nutrients from their mother’s milk.
© Parks Canada
Close
Bison Calves rely on their mother’s milk for nutrition until they are weaned at 4 to 6 months of age.
© Parks Canada
Close
At birth a baby bison will weigh 14 to 23 kilograms (40 to 50 pounds). After they are weaned they will weigh almost 10 times that amount.
© Parks Canada
Close
New born bison calves will remain very close to their mothers for protection. However, after 3 to 4 weeks they may begin to wonder amongst the herd.
© Parks Canada
Close
Within the greater bison herd, smaller groups of calves form nursery groups of 3 or more babies. These groups are looked after by a small number of attending cows.
© Parks Canada
Close
It is common to see bison calves playing and frolicking together.
© Parks Canada
Close
At Elk Island bison calves are lovingly referred to as “Little Reds” because of their reddish-orange colour.
© Parks Canada
Close
Bison calves will remain a reddish-orange colour for approximately 10 weeks. After that time they will begin to change into the same chocolate brown colour of an adult bison.
© Parks Canada
Close
Although very small and hard to see, bison calves are born with horns. After 2 to 3 weeks these horns are clearly visible from a distance.
© Parks Canada
Close
The birth ratio of males and females is very nearly 50:50. However as they grow, males tend to engage in riskier activities like fighting and exploring unknown territory. This leads to a higher mortality rate among male bison.
© Parks Canada
Close
Although most of the bison calves born in Elk Island will remain here for their entire lives some of these babies will find new homes in conservation herds across North America.
© Parks Canada
Close
These baby bison are the next generation of Canada’s bison conservation source herd and will help ensure that bison remain a part of Canada’s Natural heritage.
© Parks Canada
Close
Date modified :
2018-07-03