Spending an afternoon with Bison, Elk Ranch Flats, Grand Teton National Park

At one time there were an estimated 60 to 80 million, American Bison, in North America. The destruction of the great herds was caused by many hunters, but the massive kill happened when the hide market hunters found they could make lots of money by killing the bison for their hides. The hides were turned into belts used to run industrial machines in Europe.

The hides of cow bison were easier to make into belts due to the lack of scars and so it was estimated that in the first few years thirty million cow bison were slaughtered, (if you want to exterminate a species, kill the females). Later a technique was developed to make bull bison hides into machinery belts and by 1900 only about 500 to 1000 bison were left.

Today there are around 500,000 in the herd due to individuals that saved them from extinction. One Ranch Lady in Oklahoma instructed her ranch hands to round up all the red dogs they could find, (a red dog is a first-year calf and who were left behind by the hunters as their hides were useless. Yellowstone Park also had a small, protected herd and other herds were also gathered in other places.

If you travel to Grand Teton National Park a small herd grazes at Elk Ranch Flats. The herd moves back and forth across the highway blocking traffic. These bison were introduced in the park as Jackson Hole did not have any bison. As the bears were playing hide and seek, from us anyway, wee decided to spend an afternoon watching the herd. Parking we spotted a red dog with its mother. As she grazed and moved, it kept up with her. The red dog kept close to her, and she nursed it often. At times the red dog calf would lay down in brush.

When the cow and calf crossed the road. It was protected by other bison cows and after crossing the cows surrounded it as it nursed. When there are more red dog calves the cows will have them gather them into a safe area and will form a protective ring.

When threatened the bison form in a circle, form a circle, threatening any predators with a ring of horns.

Meanwhile the bull bison were grazing, rolling in the dust to give them a break from insects, and butting heads, practicing for the rut. Some were scratching themselves on some sections of broken fence posts, (fences don’t really keep bison out they mainly keep dumb tourists from attempting to pet them, (don’t pet the fluffy cows). Clear skies Ps if you ever watch bison bulls one thing to watch out for. It the bull raises its tail, and stares at you. It is getting ready to charge. Do not approach and stay at least 25 yards away.