It’s been over six months since I’ve shared any bison photos and I thought this one deserved to be seen.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 100mm
Three days ago on Antelope Island I found this bison relieving an itch by scratching enthusiastically and aggressively against a large boulder. It’s an activity I see occasionally on the island but this time I thought the stretched out rear haunches, sloped body angle and raised head were both unusual and amusing, especially when combined with the deep resonant rumblings of apparent pleasure I was hearing intermittently from the bison.
Maybe you had to be there and hear it to fully appreciate the experience. But maybe not.
Ron
Note: I’m a bona fide coward when it comes to bison so it goes without saying that I was safely inside my pickup when I took this photo. Bison are unpredictable and potentially extremely dangerous, as documented by this video included in a recent CNN article about a bison attack in Texas.
Nice one Ron. I’ve seen a lot of bison and bison photos over the years, but never one quite like that. 🙂
Wonderful Bison photograph — “Ahhh. Right there! That’s the spot!” I’ve enjoyed watching their antics (from a respectable distance, of course) on Catalina Island.
I understand the itch issue. I have one spot by my right shoulder blade that I can’t reach and that’s always where the itch is! As I don’t have any boulders in my house, I have to make do with the door jamb.
Marty, I have a similar itchy spot on my back that I can’t reach. That’s when the “grabber” I used after back surgery comes in handy.
Oooh. That looks as if it feels GOOD. And don’t we all know those pesky itches. Never mind Artificial Intelligence, I think we should spend a lot more time and money searching for a cure for natural stupidity. And fear we are doomed to fail.
“And fear we are doomed to fail.”
EC, I think we’re getting worse in that regard, instead of better.
Great shot! Love bison – they are majestic!
Took my former husband to Alaska to share my childhood experiences. Saw a grizzly and stopped the car so he could take a photo. That moron jumped out of the car to ‘get a closer shot.’ Keeping my voice as calm as possible I demanded that he get back in the car. When we returned to my parents house that guy received a very stern talk from my dad. People can be SO stupid and disrespectful in a natural environment.
Kathleen, I hope your ex learned from the experience.
Scratch that itch, Ahhhh…
As for the video, her very first words of narrative, “The babies are over there” should have been the first clue.
You have a point, Michael.
I love the photo, the bison looks in a state of itch ecstasy, one I can relate to, and I know the sound. To me they sound like a idling steam engine. One of my favorite island activities is siting IN MY CAR surrounded by bison listening to them communicate and huff as they walk. I used to hike a bike alone more on the island but since the experienced trail runner was killed in fall 2020 I am more cautious. 2020-21 I was not working, there were so many people on the trails there was no being alone and I hike and rode a lot on the island. I have always given the bison a wide space. Bison like to walk the same paths we do, if they are on a trail at the start I don’t take it or turn around and find another place on the island to go for the day. The problem I have had several times is on my return from a hike or ride there will be a huge scattered herd along the path. Especially the dirt road from the ranch to the south tip of the island. One of my favorite leisurely rides before open to cars. When that many bison are scattered they are impossible to pass. I have had to sit for and hour or so as they slowly graze away. They can run fast and cover a large area very quickly. Sometimes there is not enough room for me to pass or even go far off the trail to get by, so I backtrack find a comfortable spot and usually sit and eat my breakfast, waiting for them to move. The larger herds are actually predictable in their habits of daily moving around the island. I stopped riding my bike on the east side trail that skirts the road, the section I seem to like the most so did the bison for a number of years. Maybe with more water they are not dropping down to the springs in the area as much. The small groups of large bulls to me seem a bit less predictable in movement around the island. They do tend to hang out in the same general areas and dust bath holes, fortunately not usually along trails I take other than the path from White Rock bay on the west side of the island to Bridger Bay. They like to be on the start of the trail by the group camping area. I have not taken that trail for a couple of years, due to bison being on the start of the trail. I have run into a few stray bulls at Frary Peak trail, where space was an issue for passing and Sentry trail where there is space to hike around bison. There are generally a few bison on Split Rock Loop, but I have not taken the trail in 10 years. It is longer and seems more strenuous to my knees. To me it seems there are more bison on the island than 30 years ago. I did not seem to run into them as much hiking. Could be I am just paying more attention as I explore.
April, I’m envious of your ability to hike and see so much of the island that I never see. I wish I’d “discovered” the island earlier than I did, when I could still hike long distances.
I love the photo of the bison enjoying a scratch!! Such a universal pleasure.
And poor but incredibly fortunate Rebecca! What a frightening video and cautionary tale. Lessons learned: Don’t look bison (or strange dogs) directly in the eyes, don’t get within 150 feet of bison and don’t hike alone!
“Universal pleasure indeed.
Melanie, there has been a time or two when I wondered if a bull bison might charge my pickup. I felt safe personally but I sure as hell didn’t want any damage to my pickup. In both cases the bull bison approached me, rather than the other way around.
What fun! I can almost imagine “his“ eyes are rolled back in his head. P.S. This reminded me of a T-shirt I saw in Montana last summer: DON’T PET THE FLUFFY COWS — Wow. That people have to be told…
Ellen, I don’t know if its eyes were ever rolled back in its head but in many of my photos its eyes were closed, probably in pure enjoyment.
Yep, think it’s a “petting zoo”…….. 🙁
What fun to be there for a refreshing scatching session! 🙂 Yeh, people are stupid when it comes to the “fuzzy cows” – of course, cows/bulls can do some serious damage also!
“of course, cows/bulls can do some serious damage also!”
Especially when the cow has a calf. As a kid I had a couple of close calls in that situation. Thankfully I was always very wary of the bulls.
Love it.
Thanks, Burrdoo.
She is one lucky lady to be alive to tell her story. All animals in nature are unpredictable. We often see the news stories of stupid people at Yellowstone and other locations who walk over to bison so there friends can take a photo and end up getting knocked down and gored. I have taken photos of bison at the North Rim Grand Canyon, but standing a hundred yards or more away and standing right next to my car. Nice shot – guess all creatures get an itch from time to time.
“She is one lucky lady to be alive to tell her story.”
She sure is, Everett. And that lady didn’t act as stupidly as many folks do.
Love it, Ron! We all need to find our own ways to scratch that itch!
Thanks, Diane.
You took your 7DII out for a spin? Nice to see it still gets some shutter time. My 7D just gathers dust these days.
Catherine, I always have the 7DII with me because I have my “baby lens” attached to it and sometimes I need less reach. But I’ll admit, sometimes I forget to use it in situations when it’s needed.
What a way to start the day!!! LOL! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Sue.
Man, that feels so good!!
We know the feeling, don’t we Dick.