Bison
We chose the timing of our recent trip to the West to be there during the bison rut, and we mostly hit it. Maybe we were a little early.
Before this trip, I knew a little about bison:
They are big. Bulls can be over six feet tall at the shoulder and weigh over 2,000 pounds. That’s big, and you really get an understanding of how big if you are lucky enough to safely get close. We were lucky enough because we took an early morning safari in Custer SP.
They travel in herds.
There are fewer of them than there used to be.
They are difficult to photograph because they are black.
It’s incredibly stupid to try and get a selfie with one. People do this all the time. Don’t be one of those people.
Two employees of Custer State Park, ND, told me compatible stories about the bison. So, here’s what I think I now know:
The herds are matriarchal. Most of the time the herd consists of cows and their calves. Older cows decide where the herd is going and when.
Prior to the rut, the bulls hang around the herd, but the older cows won’t let them into the herd until the right time. In Yellowstone, the bulls were hanging around the herd. In Custer SP they were mingling in the herd trying to identify a cow and separate her from the rest of the herd. We did not see any successful bulls.
The herd can cover a long distance in a day.
The herd likes to get to water twice a day.
Bison have a symbiotic relationship with prairie dogs. Prairie dog towns have more succulent vegetation then the surrounding countryside. The bison enjoy the fresh vegetables, and in return they fertilize the town. Prairie dog towns also provide a refuge for bison to survive fires, because vegetation there is lower and not as dry as the surrounding grass.
There is a lot more to learn, and what I think I know may be wrong. So, we’ll be making other trips to photograph and learn about these amazing animals.
One final thing. We saw people trying to herd bison with their car. They drive along behind the animal with their phone or camera held out the window, slowly pushing the animal forward. We saw one bull get pretty nervous as he was being pushed to a spot where there would be cars to his left and his right, leaving him few options. Just before he got to where he would be blocked in, he bolted to the right, very close to an RV with a family standing around. That was uncomfortable for the bull and the family.
Watch the animals. Enjoy them. Please leave them alone.
