Winter Wildlife: The American Buffalo

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.

Next, Bison from western Montana:

Animal Signs: Bison

I photographed this Bison in Yellowstone Park. He was using this sign as a scratching post:

Bison

Wildlife at Yellowstone National Park - II

Today, the Bison. Impossible to go to Yellowstone and not see American Bison. They are just about everywhere in the Park. If you want big herds, then Lamar and Hayden Valleys are the places to go. Over the years and many trips to Yellowstone I have gotten a large number of Bison photos. So, I don't really concentrate on photographing them anymore. Yet, I did stop occasionally this trip for a photo. Here are a couple:

Bison Calves

Bison Lone Bull

Mothers with Babies, Last one

One last post -- for now -- of mothers with babies. I usually think in terms of mammals, then birds with their chicks, but there are others to be considered. Take this parent with it's young for example:

Desert Spiny Lizard

 Of course, seeing mammals nursing their young for me is a treat:

American Bison with Calf

White Tail Deer with Fawn

Said with Tongue in Cheek

Every once in awhile I change my desktop photo. And, two days ago I had such an urge so was looking for a new photo and decided on the Bobcat photo below. I have been looking at that photo on my desktop for a two days now. And this morning I wondered how many different mammal photos I have where I can see their tongue. (Okay, I admit I must not have anything important to do --- or, that I am feeling lazy and am procrastinating the important things). Nonetheless,  I found ten such photos. My idle mind then thought, I have been doing my Blog for 28 months now, why not a Post on "Tongues?" Soo .....

Bison

Black Bear

Bobcat

Coatimundi

Coyote

Elk

Hooded Skunk

Moose

Mule Deer

White Tail Deer

Advent Calendar - December 14th

It was a snowy day in December of 1998. I spent the afternoon and the following morning looking for Bison in Western Montana in and around the National Bison Range (National Wildlife Refuge). They don't get a lot of visitors there. In fact, I was the only one for several days. In the afternoon I saw a small herd on the side of a mountain but had no way of getting close to them. Late the following morning as I was coming around a corner and up over a small hill, there he stood -- all 2000 pounds. Just him, all by himself near a creek.  With the snow falling, I slowly, carefully walked toward him to get a good photo. He looked at me and then, snap. I have the photo I wanted:

American Bison

Babies come in all shapes and sizes

Continuing with wild animal babies.

This Bison Calf probably weighed about 30 pounds, a far cry from the 2,200 pounds when he reaches maturity.

Bison Calf

 This Coatimundi youngster will weigh about 13 pounds as an adult.

Coatimundi Youngster

 And, this Javelina Piglet, which probably weighed about one pound, will grow to weigh 60 to 80 pounds as an adult.

Newborn Javelina Piglet

Mothers with Babies (or sometimes dads): Bison

Going through my photos I realized I have a number of Mothers and/or Fathers with their youngsters. So, why not a couple of posts about Animal Families, starting with the American Bison.

Bison mate in August and September; gestation is 285 days. A single reddish-brown calf nurses until the next calf is born. If the cow is not pregnant, a calf will nurse for 18 months. Bison cows are mature enough to produce a calf at 3 years of age. Bison bulls may try to mate with cows at 3 years of age, but if more mature bulls are present, they may not be able to compete until they reach 5 years of age.

American Bison with Calf

Today's Photo: May 20th

So there I was, May 2001, in Western Montana driving through the National Bison Range National Wildlife Refuge. I am driving up over the mountain on a dirt road -- looking for bear or bighorn sheep -- when out from a riparian area and wanting to cross the road was a lone Bison. He and I got to the same spot at the same time. I rolled down my window and took this shot:

Bison

Wild Babies - Part IV

And, lastly, babies nursing:

White Tail Deer with Fawn

Elk with Fawn

Bison with Calf

Bighorn Sheep with Lamb

Javelina with Piglet

Wild Babies - Part II

Wild babies are a delight to photograph. Sometimes they are curious; perhaps you are the first "human" they have ever seen. But often they seem content to frolic around playfully, without a worry in the world. And, as long as "mom" knows you are they and are NOT aggressive you are free to move about (albeit quietly and slowly) to enjoy and photograph. Here are a few more Babies in the Wild:

Bear Bear - cubs

Coatimundi

Bison - calf

Bighorn Sheep - lambs

Feral Burro - colt (or filly)

From Eeyore to Ferdinand

Sticking with the wintery theme for another day. The National Bison Range was established in 1908  as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is 25,000 acres in the Moiese Mountains of Western Montana. There is but one road through the refuge, Red Sleep Mountain Drive. It is closed in the winter and at other times when poor weather warrants. I was there one winter searching for any of 500 or so bison present on the refuge and not having much luck. Discouraged, but persistent I finally came up and over a bend, and there he was in all magnificence standing about 75 yards away. One lonely bull. No other bison in sight. Although, most bison seem to be more like Ferdinand, I still approach as I would any wild and dangerous animal. That means very slowly, and diagonally, until I get the angle I want. Every once in a while we would look at each other, and eventually, snap, I had my photo.