Friday, July 1, 2011

Bison on the Move

All too often we find ourselves traveling on ‘bison time,’ which isn’t very fast. They just plod along, taking their dear sweet time. The slope is steep here. They can’t get off the road going up or by going down. We’ll just let them mosey along. One morning we waited 45 minutes while a large herd headed towards us on the Yellowstone Bridge, a fairly long bridge over a deep ravine. That evening they changed their minds, and quietly plodded across the bridge in the other direction – another 45 minutes! This wait won’t be as long. We know this road by heart. A flatter area is coming up where they can step aside.
Our first bison cow with a new calf! That’s early. It’s a nice big cow, a yearling and the new calf. All look in good shape. Mama is on a mission. The cow and calf travel 1.4 miles in 45 minutes, and still truckn’. When bison want to move, they can cover a lot of ground. We wonder if Mama and calf are just heading west, the route to a lower elevation, or are they hurrying to catch up with their herd.
Bison cows often end up separated from their herd when they give birth. I have a wonderful memory of watching a lone cow way down the Lamar Valley. Heat waves blurred her shape and made her legs seem to dance. Then I realized there were too many legs. A new calf was running at her side. We watched the cow and calf travel down the south facing slope of the Lamar Valley, across the valley, and then into the river. She seemed to know just where to cross. A lot of the river is bordered by a steep cutbank, but the cow chose a place when the little tyke could scramble out onto the far shore. They had already traveled over a mile, but they still had to follow the far side of the valley for another half a mile. Finally she reached a group of about twenty cows. Hers was the first calf. A baby at a baby shower couldn’t have created a better fuss. Tails up the cows gathered about and greeted the newest member. The calf’s chances for survival just increased significantly. Unlike elk, bison gather together to protect each other when danger arrives. Elk protect their own calves, but leave others to fend for themselves.

Today’s Mama is hurrying on. Most of their route is windswept but where there is snow she is able to walk on crusted snow. Maybe that is why she is hurrying. Later in the day this snow will be too soft to walk on. The calf has no problem

11 comments:

  1. Love it as always! That mama must put up with a lot of kicking in the womb for baby to have that kind of endurance right out of the gate! Great Art!

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  2. Oh my gosh.. what a great story. Kind of scary having those big things close to the car isnt it? Great shot of Mama and baby and your drawing is great too. Amazing critters. Cris, Artist in Oregon.

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  3. So fun to see the buffalo that are wild. The calf is a cutie. I like your sketches too. So much life in them.

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  4. I love the way it looks like the baby is frolicking along at Mama's side with that little tail cocked! I guess those 45 minute waits give you plenty of time to practice sketching Bison details too.

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  5. So fun to read your story and see your sketch here. It is fascinating to hear about and your descriptions are very interesting!!

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  6. A very evocative post.
    Large herds of buffalo cause similar delays here. I always start the wait drumming my fingers and feeling impatient, but I gradually get drawn in. It's such an amazing 'sense-around' experience; all the rich smells and the lowing and stomping and swishing; even the touch of hot breath sometimes). After a while it feels like I've somehow become an honorary member of the herd (a wonderful privilege), and by the time the beasts actually get off the road I feel decidedly bereft at their departure!

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  7. I happy to hear you all enjoyed sharing my experience ... and yes, Laura, I took advantage of traveling behind more than one herd to make my little sketch.

    Lynda: you said it so beautifully. It is like being a member of of the herd for just a little while ... such big family members!

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  8. Wonderful, Elva! What a joy to behold. Thanks so for sharing!

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  9. I loved the story, and the images. How wonderful to be caught in a bison herd like that! I love your drawings!

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  10. Your art, words and photos are just wonderful!!!

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  11. Great photos and paintings! Thanks for sharing. I love it!

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