Buffalo / Bison
Back in the 1980s, media mogul Ted Turner discovered the beauty that is Montana and began making investments in ranches throughout the state. Part of his heritage of preserving the old West involved restoring the populations of one of our nation's most noble wildlife icons – the Bison or Buffalo. To his credit, Montana leads the nation in bison populations, both wild and domestic. more info
Yellowstone Park, for years, has been considered the last bastion for bison who survived all but near extinction from market hunters of the early 1900s. Visitors to Big Sky need only travel 30 minutes to the south (entering Yellowstone Park's northern border) to have their chance at seeing wild bison in their native habitat. Or, they can travel 30 minutes north toward Bozeman and possibly see some of Turner's domestic herds flanking the hillside slopes west of the Gallatin River.
Bison are free roaming animals, similar to domesticated cattle. Though barbed wire barriers do mark fence lines for local cattle ranchers, they often are mere annoyances for bison that otherwise migrate through them going to and from wintering areas.
Most Yellowstone Park bison live during the summer in the interior of the Park, enjoying the vast meadows and grasslands where they raise their young. As winter approaches and building snow levels force them to seek food elsewhere, many animals venture outside the Park into neighboring properties. Interactions between these vagabond bison and local cattle herds often result in the bison being "hazed" out of the area, both for their safety, and that of the cattle herds.
When fully grown, a male "bull" – as he is called – can weigh upwards of 1800-2000 lbs. Females generally stay in the 1000-1400 lb. range and are rarely far off from their newborn calves, which typically show up in the area by mid May. Special Tip: for some of the most heart-warming photos you will ever take, visit Yellowstone in its first month of opening (usually from late April through Memorial Day). It is during these weeks that you will witness more baby animals in their frolicking infancy than at any other time of the year!
39FOther pages you might find helpful:
Buffalo Field Campaign
Based in West Yellowstone, the Buffalo Field Campaign works to stop the slaughter of free roaming buffalo.
