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Yellowstone National Park (13)
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Buffalo
Perhaps the most famous of the large mammals which grace Yellowstone National Park is the bison or buffalo. About 2000 of these animals can be found within the borders of the park.
The buffalo is a very large animal. In fact, it is the largest animal in the park and the largest land animal in North America. It weighs up to 2000 pounds and stands about 6 feet at the shoulders for bulls and 5 feet for females. The animals may be found both in forests and grasslands in the park.
The buffalo was once extremely numerous in the plains and in the western states. It is estimated than the population of buffalo in America was as high as 60 million. But from this extraordinary high wanton hunting reduced the animals to near extinction. By 1900, less than 1000 of these animals still existed.
By 1894, fewer than 100 bison remained in Yellowstone. By 1902, perhaps 25 of the animals could be found there. At this point the only free roaming buffalos in the world were in Yellowstone. The remaining animals were "ranched"; rounded up, corralled, herded, inoculated, and confined. By 1915 the animals were again permitted to roam freely. Free roaming bison where subsequently crossed in Yellowstone National Pak with semi-domesticated animals brought in from Texas and northern Montana.
These efforts to preserve the buffalo have been very effective, and more than 30,000 of the animals exists today. As a result of these conservation efforts, the current bison in the park is hybrid descendant of mountains and plains races of buffalo. It is variously reported that some 2000 to 3500 of the large animals can be found in the park. The animals or consistently on the move, rarely remaining in one place for more than 2 or 3 days. Buffalo are grazing animals, eating grasses and sedges.
Although large the bison can move very quickly. The animals may reach a top speed of 40 miles per hour. Buffalo may be seen in a variety of places in the park, but the Hayden Valley is a popular location to see large numbers of them. Seen below are some adults with their calves, which are born singly in May or early June.
The buffalo is a wild animal even when in proximity to people, and it is often cantankerous, so it should not be approached. The animals may evince nervousness with a raised tail and defecation.
The animals are wild, but they are often spotted at close range in tourist-frequented areas.
As seen here, buffalo shed their coats from time to time. However, unlike elk or deer the buffalo's horns, which are characteristic of both males and females, are not shed.
The buffalo is impressive to see in person, but to many it is symbolic of the open spaces of the west in which it lives.
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