What Does “A Gang of Bison” Mean?
“Gang” describes bison social structure in a pattern similar to elk, bull bison often form loose bachelor groups for much of the year, separate from the larger cow-and-calf herds, only rejoining the main herd in earnest during the summer rutting season when competition for mates intensifies dramatically.
During the rut, bull bison engage in genuinely dramatic displays and contests, bellowing, wallowing in dust or mud, and occasionally violent head-to-head clashes, to establish dominance and breeding rights. Outside that intense window, though, bulls in their bachelor gangs are considerably more tolerant of each other’s company, grazing and moving together in a far calmer dynamic than the competitive intensity that defines their behavior once rutting season arrives.
Example: “A gang of bison grazed apart from the main herd, bulls keeping their distance from the cows and calves until the rut approached.”
Related: Collective Nouns for Mammals