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The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe; a typical European bison is about 2.1 to 3.5 m (6.9 to 11.5 ft) long, not counting a tail, and 1.6 to 1.95 m (5.2 to 6.4 ft) tall.

The European bison is a herd animal, which lives in both mixed and solely male groups. Mixed groups consist of adult females, calves, young aged 2–3 years, and young adult bulls. The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors, though on average, they number eight to 13 animals per herd. Herds consisting solely of bulls are smaller than mixed ones, containing two individuals on average. European bison herds are not family units. Different herds frequently interact, combine, and quickly split after exchanging individuals.

On average, it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than the American bison (Bison bison). Compared to the American species, the wisent has shorter hair on the neck, head, and forequarters, but longer tail and horns.

Puszcza Białowieska (Białowieża Forest) is the most common place in Poland (aside from ZOOs) to go to if you want to watch the Eurasian Bison. The history of the species is the one with a happy ending. They were almost hunt to extinction, leaving no wild living animals in the early XX century. The last wild bison (of Bison bonasus) is said to be shot in 1921 in Białowieża Forest. From the small captive population in ZOOs (something around 50 animals) they were then slowly reintroduced to the wild in different countries in Europe (from 1951). According to numbers, Poland has the largest wild living population of animals – 1,212 are in free-range herds.

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