New Year Babies: Bison

NOTE: As I was checking the list of visitors to our blog, we have had visitors from 6 of the 7 continents today, missing only ... Antarctica. From North America: US and Canada; From South America: Brazil; From Europe: France, Portugal, and Ukraine; From Africa: Kenya; From Asia:  United Arab Emirates, Indonesia; and Australia. And that's just so far today. Think someone from Antarctica will join us today?

On to our daily post:

The New Year brings new life and new hope. So why not a series on Wildlife "Babies"?


One of the joys of Yellowstone National Park is being able to get up close and personal with wildlife, here, Bison:

Bison Calf

Mother nursing her Calf

Bison - II

Here's another "5" Star photo from the National Bison Range National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. While the refuge is open year round, the main 19 mile gravel road up into the mountains is closed during the winter. In the summer, it's a different story. The terrain changes significantly, and as it does so does the wildlife. In addition to Bison, you might see deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats, and over 200 species of birds. One summer as I was driving the loop I saw this Bison following an "animal path." As I stopped to photograph it, I realized that the path crossed the road  precisely where I was stopped. As he approached it appeared as though he was "licking his chops", so I took this one photo before moving out of its way. 

Bison

Bison

Everyone knows the story of the American Bison (Buffalo) that once roamed throughout the plains states in North America. Today, there are about 500,000 but all but 15,000 are on privately owned ranches. So, only 15,000  are considered free roaming and "wild." Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta, Yellowstone National Park, and Montana's National Bison Range National Wildlife Refuge are the largest areas today with free roaming Bison. Plans are underway to reintroduce them into Southern Colorado and Northern Montana.

Today's "5" rated photo comes from Montana's National Bison Range. I had been looking for them for two days when I came across this lone Bull standing not far from a creek. I think we were probably the only two mammals within miles. (That's probably not true, but felt true). I walked to within 50 feet or so took a few photos and then headed back to my Jeep to get out of the cold and snow.

 Bison

Pairs of Two: Eight

More fighting pairs:

American Bison jousting in Yellowstone National Park

Lucifer Hummingbirds fighting in Ash Canyon, Arizona

National Wildlife Refuges

National Bison Range, Montana, 1908

While Teddy Roosevelt set aside some of the first Wildlife Areas by Executive Order starting in 1903, by 1908 he finally got Congress to agree to a Nationwide allocation and management program . And, the National Bison Range was established with the first Congressional appropriations ever made for the purchase of lands for a national wildlife refuge. The original herd of bison, released in 1909, was purchased with private money from the American Bison Society; the herd was then donated to the Range. The National Bison Range helped bring the bison back from the edge of extinction. Today, 350 to 500 bison call the Range home.

Much of the Range was once surrounded by prehistoric Lake Missoula, which was formed by a glacial dam 10,000 years ago. The old beach lines of Lake Missoula are still visible on north-facing slopes. Today, the National Bison Range has a diversity of habitats, including grasslands, Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forests, riparian areas, and ponds. The National Bison Range is one of the last intact publicly-owned palouse prairie grasslands in the United States.

In addition to herds of bison, the Range supports populations of elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep as well as coyotes, mountain lions, bears, and bobcats. The Refuge has recorded 211 bird species.

This is one of my favorite Refuges. As you will see from the photos, I have been there at different times of the year: winter, summer, spring, and fall. Much like Yellowstone, it never disappoints. Although, I always go there looking for mammals, occasionally I find a bird or two worth a photo.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep - Ram

American Bison: I had been looking all the previous afternoon and following morning for  Bison. Then to my surprise came across this lone Bull standing in the snow.

Elk getting a drink from a small pond.

Mule Deer: still velvet on their antlers, late Summer.

Pronghorn in Thistles

Pronghorn in Snow

White Tailed Deer: When Whitetails are calm their tails are down. When they are cautious, there tails are horizontal. When they are nervous, their tails are up. Here are three Whitetails showing all three positions. (Photo from 1992)

Blue Grouse: a pleasant surprise.

Lazuli Bunting

Bumping Heads

Occasionally, like the "civilized" world I suppose, wild animals fight. They fight to establish dominance, territory, or the love of a female. As in these photos, though, it is usually done with little harm to the other. The photo of Bighorn Rams fighting was one of my first photos with an early model APS camera (1995 I believe). The format eventually died, as well it should have given the quality of my photo. The wild horses fighting was quite a thrill. I had driven 100 miles on a Canadian dirt road looking for them. Six hours into the trip I found them. 

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Rams: Cascades, Washington

American Bison: Western Montana

Elk: North Central Colorado

Wild Horses: Central Alberta, Canada

Pronghorn: Northwestern Colorado

Sleeping Through it All: Part I

Every once in a while, on my wildlife excursions I come across an animal sleeping -- or resting. Often in these situations the animal is content to remain laying down provided I don't make any sudden movement. The result is usually a nice photo op. The Bison was actually "wallowing" and was back on his feet in about 30 seconds. The Coyote saw something to eat -- not sure what it was since the wild grasses were so tall -- but quickly jumped up and pounced on whatever it was. The others remained resting for quite a while, and in fact I left them before they got up. I have a few more I'll post tomorrow. But for today:

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: Western Montana

American Bison: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Black Bear: Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Bobcat: Asleep in our Flower Bed, Tucson, Arizona

Coatimundi: Galiuro Mountains, Arizona

Coyote: Laying in Wildflowers, Western Wyoming

Desert Bighorn Sheep: Trigo Mountains, Arizona