What is the approximate gestation period for female wood bison following breeding during the rut?
Answer
Approximately nine months.
The reproductive cycle of the female wood bison is timed to maximize calf survival in the challenging northern environment. After a female reaches sexual maturity, typically between two and three years of age, she undergoes a gestation period lasting roughly nine months. Following this period, cows generally give birth to a single, precocial calf during the spring months, with the typical birthing window spanning from April through August. It is also noted that due to the high energetic demands of raising an offspring in this challenging habitat, females usually do not produce a new calf every single year, often spacing births every two to three years.
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