The American buffalo is one of the icons of the United States of America with the male bison being the largest mammal in North America. Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour and are extremely agile, can spin around quickly, jump high fences and are strong swimmers with a lifespan is 10 - 20 years. Bison were once over hunted and near extintinction in America. In 1905 Teddy Roosevelt paved the way for the conservation movement when he formed the American Bison Society with William Hornaday to save the American bison. Today bison live in all 50 states, including on Native American lands, wildlife refuges, national parks and private lands.