Guess Who Is In Town?

The bull bison I saw last week was scoping out the territory for his family. This morning when I went out to the entrance station, there they all were. And I had my camera this time:


When I drove up, they started running. What an amazing sight to see them all turn in unison and stampede across the meadow!



The whole herd stayed out there most of the day. They caused a "Buffalo Jam", with tourists stopping to take pictures, parking all over the place, even leaving their cars in the road to get out and get closer.



The buffalo wandered around the meadow, sometimes going all the way over to the trees, sometimes coming back close to the road. Here they are all bunched up by the entrance sign:


When I had no cars coming, I watched them with binoculars. They really are amazing animals. I got lots of questions from visitors:

Are they wild? yes. Do they stay up here all winter? no. Where do they go when it gets cold? I have no idea, but probably down in the canyon. Have they birthed their young yet? I think so, because when I was out there this morning I saw some calves. How many are there? About 80 of them. Are they dangerous? yes, if you make them mad, they can charge you.

I hope I get to see them again soon.

Dang It!

Last year, FabGrandpa and went to town one day and I left my camera at home. I missed one of the best photo opportunities ever, when we came home and there was a bull bison standing in the road. I vowed, that day, to NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT MY CAMERA AGAIN!

Yesterday, I worked the late shift at the entrance station. As I was coming home near sunset, there he was again! The largest, most forbiding looking animal I have ever seen (and I am not talking about FabGrandpa here), was standing alone in the meadow to my right. I stopped the truck and opened my backpack, and you guessed it! I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA WITH ME!!!!! I could just cry! That guy has now given me two good chances to take his picture and I missed them both!

Oh, Give Me A Home...

I really think this place is where that song is about...

These guys were on the side of the road the other day. I took this pic out the window of the Jeep I was driving. There must have been about 50 of them out there. Click on the picture to make it bigger and get the full effect of it.