In comments on other posts several readers have requested that I do a post on the Bison that I see regularly on Antelope Island and often mention in my blog text. While I’m largely out if my element when my subject doesn’t have feathers, I’ll do my best.
There have been Bison on the island since 1893 and the herd size is maintained at between 500 to 700 animals. Each fall the bison are rounded up and some are sold to limit the size of the herd within the carrying capacity of the island.
They spend most of their time higher up on the island but they regularly visit this area where the island slopes down to meet the mud flats of the Great Salt Lake because there are fresh water springs in the vicinity. The lake itself is highly saline and undrinkable. Here they’re also enjoying the green grass close to the springs.
Occasionally some of them even venture out into the shallow water of the lake.
But they spend most of their time higher up on the island. That’s not a road in the middle of the photo – it’s a well-worn bison trail, with smaller spurs coming down to meet it from above. It’s this trail that leads to some of the springs in the previous photos.
And when they’re coming down that trail to the water they sometimes do it in a rush. These bison are running pell-mell down the hill toward the springs.
The herd filed past me very close as they crossed one of the roads and this animal was doing something that is very common for bison – licking its nostril. I have a couple of theories (wild guesses, actually) as to why they do this. These animals lose a lot of water through their nostrils – they’re constantly dripping the watery mucus. So I’ve wondered if it’s an adaptation to conserve either water or salt or both. Who knows?…
Their bi-colored tongue intrigues me.
This individual is still losing patches of its winter coat.
To get to the springs the bison have to cross the only road going south on the island and they cross it at their leisure. If there are lots of animals in the group you might as well sit back, turn the engine off and enjoy the view for a while.
The calves are red, cute and rambunctious…
and it doesn’t take them long to begin growing horns.
It’s now calving season on the island – this photo was taken just five days ago. Each cow has a newborn calf next to her. There were roughly 100 cows in this group, most of them with vulnerable calves on the ground. I don’t know if there were other groups like this elsewhere on the island – it’s a big island (42 square miles of grasslands, rocky slopes, mountains and many hidden gulleys).
Bison love to roll in dirt wallows and when they do they can look pretty silly.
It’s amazing how much dirt, mud and/or dust can be thrown up when these huge animals go for a roll. I have photos of them wallowing where the bison can barely be seen through all of the dust and dirt.
The round, shallow dirt wallows can be found all over the island.
The bulls can be massive, weighing up to 2,000 lbs. Here one of them is grazing in the snow next to the lake with the Wasatch Mountains in the background and a starling hitching a ride on its back.
Bison are unpredictable. Typically they appear peaceful, even lazy but they may attack anything, including each other, without warning or apparent reason. They can run 35 mph, their horns are dangerous, they can use their hind legs to maim and kill with devastating effect and they use their massive heads as battering rams – imagine a ton on the hoof at those speeds.
Just recently a man was attacked by a bison on the island (whether or not the attack was provoked depends on who you talk to). The animal rammed him into a chain link fence which had a lot of give to it and that’s probably the reason he survived. Here’s a link about the incident – it’s an interesting read and includes a news story video clip.
Last fall I drove up just as this scenario was playing out. This guy (I’ve taken the detail out of his face to protect the “innocent”) was a biker (bicycle) who had laid his bike down on the road and approached this bison much too closely on foot to get a few photos with his point and shoot. I just knew bad stuff was going to happen so I quickly aimed my camera just as the bison charged this bozo. I’ll give the guy credit for one thing – he may not have had any neurons firing upstairs but he had very quick reactions. Thankfully, the bison gave up the chase as soon as the biker retreated. He was very, very lucky…
I’ve posted this photo before but I wanted to give this guy a little more free publicity. If he’d have been injured or killed I’m sure they would have put down the bison and taken further steps to “protect” the public and that makes me angry.
I’ve seen several near-tragedies on the island (two in one day) involving bison and stupid people. I’m afraid that one day human idiocy will cost someone their life.
Ron
I’ve seen people do so many stupid(and cruel) things when it comes to animals…too bad you can’t publish that biker”s face…name, address, and phone number. Sometimes I think we shoot the wrong animal when things “go wrong”. How about the idiot and his moron friend that charged the elephant. They”re a waste of oxygen and space on Earth!
Oh my these were great.
I follow Steve Creek’s blog, and I couldn’t turn down the offer to come see your blog and view the image of a fella with not much under the helmet but quick reflexes! 😉
Also love the birds tucked into some of ’em.
Just signed up under juliecat. (I have to admit I’m not much into ‘wimmen’ blogs, but I sure do love a good animal/bird blog) 🙂
The bison are so odd looking, sort of pre-historic. I am glad they have a refuge on the island. The same can not be said for many other species, and I am afraid we are in line to see a lot more extinctions in the next couple of decades. Thank you for documenting these and other animals. Education and experience are the keys to saving wild species.
What a beautiful creature to get great shots of very nice to see such a large herd. I love your photos they are amazing and thank you for sharing.
I am not just angry, I am ballistic with rage when an animal is killed because a person behaved arrogantly and stupidly.
And the bison are wild animals – and need respect. Bah.
What an amazing place, i do envy you your proximity to all that wild life. Thank you for these great pictures.
Great post! I really enjoyed the variety here and the last image is so funny!
Well, featherless, maybe, but a great set of pictures.
I get angry, too, when “authorities” resort to bullets because some human has done something stupid.Riding a bike in baggy pants comes in a close second!
Thank you for a really interesting post! We enjoyed watching a small bison herd in west Texas many years ago. It was extra memorable as a small group of Pronghorn ran through the field (of course, the bison ignored them). It was a first for both species.
(Very clever to find a way to include birds in your bison photographs!)
I wondered if someone would notice that, Wally. 🙂
Superb work.
Thanks, Terry.
Well…I’m as about country boy as you can get I suspose. We raise beef cattle on 800 arces in the Central Valley in California, and I have always loved a good Bison photo, new or old. Looking through your pictures, I see so much of the same behavior and intelligence I see in our own cattle. I realize man hunted Bison to near extiction, as well as infecting them with Bovine disease from domestic cattle. But I wasn’t there stop it when it happened. I can only do as most and celebrate the fact there is still a magnificent herd to marvel at. Maintaining that herd must be hard work……great pictures Ron.
As far as the dude running from the Bull? Well….I’m sure he’s probably a computer wiz and would laugh at me for getting a computer virus. lol. We all have something we’re good at and hate to being caught doing the things we aren’t so good at….at least he kept his helmet on. 🙂
Tim
Sounds like you have quite the spread, Tim.
As far as the “dude” in the helmet goes, I’m not sure he had anything of value in there to protect…
Hi Ron
I feel like I’ve taken a brief visit there now! Just watched the movie about that guy who got pinned to the fence by the very smart and intelligent Bison. These photos are really wonderful and I’m so glad you choose to add in the occasional series of other wildlife for our enjoyment and admiration. I used to wonder at these beasts in the western movies when I was a boy, but do actually remember them stampeding in a few scenes. Awesome stuff!
Cheers, Paul.
Thank you, Paul – I’m glad you enjoy the non-avian posts.
I’ve seen a news story where they interviewed this guy and he claims he did nothing to antagonize the bison but witnesses dispute that.
Beautiful animals Ron! Thanks for sharing! Made a planned stop years ago in OK to see them at the Tall Grass Prairie managed by The Nature Conservancy!
Thanks, Nancy. It would be interesting to see them in the tall grass.
Forgot to mention, in this big country, there are many people who are completely ignorant of the natural world. Ignorance is bliss!! It used to be a Darwin move when someone lacking knowledge made a mistake and lost their life or came close to loosing it. Today, many people make mistakes and survive, to either learn or make them all over again! There are some people who think the world revolves around them, and consequently opt to do dumb things when outdoors, some laughable, others are downright stupid. I’m always pulling for that the mistake is just bad enough that they have to learn from their bad judgement.
I agree Dick – if they get away scot-free it often reinforces the behavior.
Beautiful landscape and beautiful animals. These absorbing photos were a breakfast treat this morning. Fresh water springs occur on an island in Great Salt Lake? I had no idea that could happen. Thanks for the intriguing photos and the geological insights, Ron.
Dwynn, There are actually 40 fresh water springs on the island. They produce roughly 36 million gallons of water annually that supports the wildlife on the island.
FANTASTIC!! Almost as good as the Weasel pics, just kidding, no, just as good!!
I am delighted that you did this, many thanks for sharing.
Love these shots Ron. Nice to see a herd rather than just a few animals. Wonderful setting, gives me a good idea of the environment and ecology of the area.
I think you are probably right on licking their nostrils. Can’t think of any other explanation considering the location, climate and their physiology.
Interesting that Starlings have adapted to hitching a ride, or finding bugs? on the back of Bison.
Dick, At times the bison seem to be spread out over much of the island in small groups but occasionally a high percentage of the 500-700 bison are together in a single herd – a very impressive sight!