The Tatanka, Bison, Buffalo of Yellowstone

Actually my primary reason for wanting to go through Yellowstone National Park was to see the Bison herds. They have several herds there with numerous animals. We came in to the Park from the West Gate and initially saw few bison. So when my son encountered his totem Grandfather Raven he asked him to show us some, and so Raven did.

At first we encountered the solitaire old bulls that stay alone far from the herds and the young males.

Soon we found small groups of mature but younger bulls. August and September are the rutting months for bison, we were there at the end of this season and most of the ole boys were just kind of laying around. They looked kinda spent you might say.

As you go into the Park you receive a yellow sheet that basically says Bison may look slow and cumbersome, don't believe it. They can kill you. In fact they are six times more likely to hurt you than a bear will. They kill and hurt more people in Yellowstone than any other animal other than man himself.

Bulls like these can turn on a dime. Yes, literally on a dime.

Unlike other animals they pivot on their front legs when they turn. They do a 180 degree turn in less than one second. They can weigh up to 2,500 lbs, and run at 30mph. They can attain that 30mph with four jumps. They can clear a normal barbwire fence with a flat footed single jump, but most times they just go through it, not over it. At 2,500 lbs x 30 mph, well you figure the mass and impact. Even a full growed Grizzly won't take on an adult bull. It is just not a profitable activity.

"Most attacks by bison occur in Yellowstone National Park, the home of the largest herd of free ranging animals. An average of three attacks occur annually. Four fatalities have resulted from these attacks since 1975 (excluding car wrecks).
Most bison attacks are considered provoked, often by tourists who approach the animals too closely for photographs. However, totally unprovoked attacks also occur. Bison can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (900 kg) and can run as fast as 35 mph (57 kph). Their potential for injury must be respected.
Injuries from bison attacks include gorings and blunt trauma. The bison's horns may appear inconspicuous but can produce deeply penetrating injuries. Gorings typically involve the buttocks, posterior thighs, and back because the individual is usually running away from the bison. Stomping, butting, and tossing by the bison produce blunt injuries that include fractures and other injuries associated with a fall."

And still we saw person after person get out of their cars and walk up within 25 feet of these brutes(that's about four seconds from death). Killed by a buffalo is not a headline you often see from Yellowstone but it happens every year.

My son was a little concerned when they would pass within a foot or two of his car window. Many car doors leave Yellowstone with scars or holes in them provided by Bison horns.

Bison do well in snow. They walk into the wind and bulldoze through the drifts as though they aren't there.

Near Lake Yellowstone we found several herds of cows and calves with yearlings.

We left the Bison and went on towards Cody Wyoming.