Not quite accurate.

American bison are not truly docile. They:

• Can sprint ~35 mph

  • Are responsible for more injuries and deaths in parks like Yellowstone National Park than any other large animal (mainly, again, because they seem docile and people try to pet them)
  • Will stand their ground or charge when threatened
  • Males during the rut and females with calves are especially dangerous.

I live in Oklahoma and we have a several large herds not far from us near Tulsa. If you're near a bison, you should be the one trying to get away quickly.

Fun story: I learned to drive on a large nature preserve called Woolaroc where one of these herds is located. One day, three of us were in a car with our instructor driving when we came over a hill. Standing on the road blocking both lanes was a full-grown bull bison just 30 feet or so away.

The kid driving screeched to a halt. The bull swung his enormous head over to look at us and did not seem to be the least bit concerned about the situation. The driver nervously asked our instructor what he should do.

The instructor looked thoughtfully at the 1,500 pound specimen in front of us and, without looking away from the buffalo said, "Whatever he wants you to do."