Most folks don’t know much about them but the “painted bison” have become an iconic symbol of Antelope Island.
- All 8 of the following images were taken three days ago on the island. They don’t all relate to the painted bison but I wanted to include each of them as a representation of much of my experience on the island that morning – the good, the bad and the ugly.
I’ll get to the painted bison in a minute but my first experience that morning was yet another example of people who think rules and laws apply to everyone but them. After all, they’re “special”.
Camping on the island is only allowed in campgrounds and designated camping areas but this clown thought he could camp anywhere he pleased. And he did just that. He was obviously still asleep in his tent as I drove by him to check out a nearby pond for birds.
When I came back he still wasn’t stirring. Soon after I left the area I reported him to a ranger friend (who had just spotted the illegal camper himself) and the ranger was about to report him to law enforcement. I hope they gave him both a citation and a stern lecture. This is something I see all too often on the island and I suspect they get away with it more often than they should.
As you may have noticed there was some pretty funky light between the marina behind the vehicle and the Wasatch Mountains in the far background.
So I repositioned myself to document its source. There wasn’t much color and the marina isn’t my favorite setting on the island but I thought those crepuscular rays were pretty spectacular.
Ok, what about those painted bison? Or “buffaloes” as so many folks call them?
There are three of them on the island and this one greets visitors just as they get on the island from the causeway. They and others were created by local artists for Utah’s 2002 Winter Olympic Games and at the time they were distributed all across the Wasatch Front as a promotion. But after the games were over Davis County started looking for a symbol as their “brand” and settled on the “buffalo” because of all the bison on Antelope Island. Eventually three of them were distributed over the northern end of the island where they remain to this day.
This one has been painted “as a tribute to the birds and the birdwatchers of Antelope Island”. Its paint job includes a variety of local birds with their scientific names. The Antelope Island State Park Visitor Center can be seen on the horizon on top of the hill in the background.
This painted bison with a decidedly different paint job is on the grounds of the visitor center. The 7 mile long causeway to the island can be seen snaking out into what remains of this portion of the Great Salt Lake and toward the rest of Davis County on the “mainland”.
The third painted bison was placed near the first one at the entrance to the island. The theme of this one’s paint job seems to be handprints representing native cultures long-gone in the area. This one seems to be the most popular of the three with tourists.
Personally I’ve always thought of these painted bison as being a little garish and incongruous in such a natural setting as Antelope Island but when I asked my ranger friend what kind of feedback they’ve had about them over the years he said that as far as he knows none of it has been negative and they’re “very popular with tourists”. And I suspect he’s right because I rarely drive by them when I don’t see tourists taking photos of each other with the bison. For better or for worse they truly have become icons of the island. I really don’t mind them but with those bright paint jobs they just seem a little… I’ll say it again, incongruous, at least for my tastes.
But love’m or not I was disappointed to see that low-brows have recently vandalized this one.
Tourists from Florida tagged one of the horns of this one a couple of months ago. To my knowledge this vandalism was first reported on Facebook by Judy Miller Watson. My ranger friend said there were plans to get it repaired and “law enforcement is investigating”.
I hope the King Family of Dixie County Florida pays a steep price for their vandalism.
After yesterday’s positive blog post I’m a little ashamed of myself for focusing on the negative today (the illegal camper and the tagging, not the painted bison themselves), especially after watching the video clip (a Ted Talk given by National Geographic photographer DeWitt Jones) posted in yesterday’s comments by my friend and fellow bird photographer Keith Bauer.
Perhaps I need to watch it a third time to be reminded to “change my lens and change my life” and celebrate what’s right with the world instead of focusing on the negative. Given recent events on the world scene I’m finding that very difficult to do at the moment but it could be argued that times like these call for just that kind focusing adjustment.
If for no other reason than our emotional well-being.
Ron
Ron, if you can figure out how to change your attitude, I’d love to know how you do it. Even being out of the country for 4 months hasn’t helped my attitude (one can never completely get away from what’s happening at home). I will also say that even though vandalism and illegal camping are negative, they are still upsetting (as they should be), and I believe they still need to be documented.
Unfortunately, it requires countless citizens to deal with (or try to stop) the negative aspects of life so the majority of us can enjoy the positive aspects of living.
Sigh.
I too think that rather a lot of people are special. As special as they think themselves. Our definition of special diametrically opposed though.
LOVE the early morning rays, and seeing a little bit more of your stamping grounds.
Thank you, EC.
At least visitors can safely approach the painted bison and take their selfies. Hopefully that negates approaching the live ones and the possibility of getting hurt or hurting the live Bisons. Whenever I see vandalism I wish I had the opportunity to document and report the individual or group. We have such beautiful areas and I don’t understand defacing anything. Love your efforts to bring notice to things good and bad. Wish the last one was not needed. Thanks.
Betty, Some of those tourists walk right up to bison with their point and shoots. It’s crazy. Some of them have been charged by bison too. I actually documented that on my blog once.
It is frustrating when people do think their the exception when it comes rules. At our Bald eagle nest it is posted not to linger in front of the nest but to observe them from a designated viewing area down the trail. Guess they can’t read😤 Has for the vandalism, NO patience for that❗️
It’s a beautiful day here in Sacramento CA❗️
Enjoy your day
Enjoy your weather, Diane. Ours keeps waffling back and forth so far today.
I wonder how the King family feel if we all descended — with sharpies in hand — upon their house and its contents. Or if we all pulled up and each pitched a tent (and had a good “morning pee”) on Mr. Camper’s front lawn. *rubs hands together with glee* 😀
Now that my evil fantasies are out of the way, Dick’s comment reminded me of the book “Our Culture on the Couch” by Dr. Emmett Miller, which discusses how the world can be changed at all different levels using a systems approach.
And my favorite is the bird bison (birdson?). I’m also drawn to the one with the running bison cutouts, although that one could use a catchlight in the eye. 😉
Ha, a group pee. And for a good purpose too. I’ll be there!
Oh Marty, I love how you think! I’m in!
Sorry to be late on this one…probably pointless planting yesterday and today, plus deep cleaning. Not sure if the planting will get done, or not. Thus far, I’m finding excuses for naps. The excuses are valid, but…
Love Ted Talk!
However, one could look at it another way – change whats wrong to whats right. That will engage one and bring a smile to your face.
Engagement is all the time not once in awhile.
Great post, I’ll have get a juice camera – wonderful outlook.
I agree, there’s another way to look at it, Dick. Perhaps we should go back and forth between them. But staying in the negative realm too often and too much isn’t good for my health…
Thank you for reporting that jerk, for recording his license plate, for “focusing on the negative”…if nobody did these as-holes would never be stopped…they ‘re too stupid! Sometimes I am ashamed just to be human……the vandalized horns make me sick…morons!!!
I always report folks like that on the island, Patty. And I often make them as “famous” as I can here on my blog too…
Patty, I’ve often said I’d jump species in a heartbeat if given half an opportunity! But then, what if there are critter a$$holes, too? ACK! I cannot believe that. 😉
I enjoyed your post today with a little about illegal camping, a bit about the bison and a tale of tagging. We do tend to focus on the negatives because they go against our upbringing. But Dewitt has a strong message that should be shared. I personally love his point of view and hope others do too. Thanks for your informative and entertaining posts Ron!
I should probably watch that video about once per month, Sandy – just to keep me on track…
Good Morning. Love the pictures of the Painted Buffalo as I call them. We have Painted Ponies in Sheridan. Yes there will always be vandals around where ever we go.
Thank you, Trudy.
Beautiful sunrise Ron, and my favorite is the first bison with the painted Great Blue Heron, the Grebe, etc. And the violations you showed us are always very irritating to those of us who love nature and the great outdoors. I would never even think of painting my name on a monument or anywhere else for that matter. Glad you exposed them as well as the sleepy camper. We have never been to most of the areas that you use for your excellent photos. Been to SLC on business, and to Park City and Deer Valley skiing back in my younger days, and to Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion a couple years back, but never to those areas you so often feature. Keep on exposing those violators and taking those beautiful photos.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett. I think you’d enjoy a trip to the island if you ever get the chance. Especially in the early morning…
Yeh – lots of folks are sure they’re “special” and rules don’t apply – of course, the fine example we have as a “leader” at present isn’t helpful either. 🙁 Hope that not only does law enforcement nail them but they get get some social ostracism as well – both the camper and the vandal’s. Great Falls has a number of the painted bison that were created for some occasion quite a few years ago now. Don’t know about the Antelope Island setting but I do enjoy most them in their various locations around town. 🙂 The crepuscular rays (what a mouth full) are beautiful. 🙂
Yeah, significant social ostracism would be a good thing too, Judy.
I see this when we travel, vandalism, I asked a person after seeing what he did, would you like me to come to your home and do the same thing. I did report him, add the license plate, hope he was fined, and worse of all he lives in this state.
Good for you, Steven. I wish everyone would report jerks like that.