Tag: Bison

Picture-perfect video captures Yellowstone bison in front of Old Faithful

It’s magical.

Bison are just one of the captivating animals you can spot trekking through Yellowstone National Park in the winter. If you regularly visit the park, you have probably been able to see one of the park’s beautiful bison before. But have you seen these majestic creatures posing in front of Old Faithful geyser right as it’s erupting? On Saturday, March 9, that is exactly what park visitor Cindy Shaffer caught on camera.

“That was an extremely special and tearful moment for me,” Shaffer said. “Tears of joy, of course.”

Experience the wonder for yourself in the video below. Plus, find out where you can go for a bison encounter of your own with this list of five places in the US where you can see wild bison.

Note: The featured image is a stock photo used to illustrate the story.

Yellowstone bison loses footing on ice and many of us can relate

Bison are incredibly agile despite their immense size and bulky appearance. But place North America’s largest land mammal on ice and anything can happen.

Bison are remarkably agile despite their immense size and bulk. But place North America’s largest land mammal on ice and anything can happen.

The accompanying footage, captured recently in Yellowstone National Park, shows a bison lose its footing while trying to catch up to the herd, slide briefly on its rump, then tumble onto its side.

But not to worry; its recovery was as swift and graceful as a bison can manage, and the animal appeared none the worse for wear.

The footage was shared via Facebook by Creekside at Yellowstone, whose followers seemed to relate, having perhaps dealt with slippery ice themselves this winter.

“Happens to the best of us,” reads one comment.

Two other observations:

–“There’s always someone watching when you slip on ice.”

–“I love how the fallen buffalo looks back to see the spot where it fell.”

Yellowstone is home to nearly 5,000 bison, which are perhaps the most iconic critters in the park.

They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, run 30 mph, and leap over fences – that is, when they’re not trying to navigate an iced-over creek.

Rare footage shows massive Yellowstone bison stampede

A photographer in Yellowstone National Park has captured rare footage showing a bison stampede that involved hundreds of animals and lasted several minutes.

A photographer in Yellowstone National Park on Wednesday captured rare footage showing a bison stampede that involved hundreds of animals and lasted several minutes.

“I’m not sure what spooked these bison, if anything at all, but there was a legitimate stampede of hundreds of them today in Lamar Valley!” Trent Sizemore boasted via Facebook. “There were many more behind us coming from over the ridge as well.”

Bison have existed in what’s now Yellowstone National Park continuously since prehistoric times. Stampedes are not new, but park visitors rarely observe stampedes involving so many animals.

“I’ve seen some smaller herds running before, but not anywhere near that many,” Sizemore told ForTheWin Outdoors. “We watched them for probably five or six minutes before they settled down.”

Sizemore, a West Yellowstone-based wildlife photographer and workshop guide, said he captured his footage from 3/4-of-a-mile with an iPhone.

Yellowstone National Park is home to about 5,000 bison. They are the largest land animals in North America and adult males can weigh 2,000 pounds.

Lamar Valley, often referred to as the ‘Serengeti of North America,’ is one of the park’s top locations for observing bison and other large critters.

Bison, moose provide restroom humor at Yellowstone, Grand Teton

Footage showing a moose strolling past a restroom in Grand Teton National Park is a reminder that large animal encounters can occur just about anywhere.

A guide on Friday shared footage of a moose strolling just inches from a restroom in Grant Teton National Park and asked his Instagram followers: “Can you imagine walking out of this bathroom at this moment?”

Bo Welden was leading an excursion for Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures and his footage helps to illustrate that large animals can materialize just about anywhere.

Welden stated, “Turns out there are many bathrooms in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks BUT you might have to wait to get out of the car until a HUGE bull moose walks past first.”

The clip is reminiscent of a more dramatic (embarrassing?) situation that occurred in Yellowstone in July. In that case, the critter was a massive bison and the man hoping to exit the restroom smartly chose to hold up inside.

Click here to view that footage and note the amusing reaction from tourists in the parking lot, including a child who observes, “The guy is peeking out.”

Both clips show that interesting animal encounters sometimes occur where you least expect them to occur.

–Image is a video screenshot

Watch: Yellowstone grizzly bear runs for its life, but from what?

What animal causes an adult grizzly bear to flee? A guide who works in Yellowstone National Park provided the answer in a recent video.

A photographer has shared footage of a grizzly bear sprinting for cover while being chased by another critter in Yellowstone National Park.

Bo Welden, a naturalist and guide for Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures, asked Instagram followers last week to identify the other critter before it appears in his footage (posted below).

The answer, as many might have guessed, is a bison. More precisely, a momma bison protecting a calf near the Lamar River.

“A mother bison showed this grizzly bear that he is not the biggest baddest beast on the landscape,” Welden wrote. “It was truly AMAZING to be able to witness this role reversal while on tour with Jackson Hole EcoTours guests! We were stunned to see this moment in real time.”

What stands out is the speed of both animals.

Grizzly bears can attain a top speed of nearly 40 mph, while a sprinting bison maxes out at 35 mph.

It’s rare, however, to witness both animals running at full or nearly full speed.

Welden told FTW Outdoors that the bison herd, with other mommas and calves, was just “around the corner from the bear.”

He added that while the bear was chased away, it stayed in the vicinity and was later spotted feasting on the carcass of a 2- to 3-year-old bison that it had discovered nearby.

“A wise choice,” Welden said, “compared to attempting to kill a red dog that still had a protective mother around.”

Welden captured his footage in early summer when first-year bison calves still boasted their “red dog” coloration and were extremely vulnerable to predation from bears and wolves.

–Generic grizzly bear image atop this post is courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

5 places in the US where you can see wild bison

See America’s national mammal.

In 2016, bison officially became the national mammal of the United States. While people often confuse these critters with buffalo, some important characteristics distinguish the two. Bison are native to North America and have roamed the continent since prehistoric times. In contrast, “true buffalo” are native to Asia and Africa. Most Americans are at least vaguely aware of the bison’s place in American history, but this animal’s tale stretches back way before European colonizers arrived in North America.

Bison served both symbolic and practical purposes for North American Indigenous communities like the Blackfoot, Lakota, Navajo, and Paiute. Parts of the animal were used for everything from food and clothing to tools and shelter. According to the InterTribal Buffalo Council, an organization of Indigenous tribes advocating for the restoration and preservation of the American bison, the animal is a representation of Indigenous peoples’ spirit, “remind[ing] them of how they once lived free and in harmony with nature.”

Despite a history of European colonizers devastating the American bison population, the species still survives today. Conservation efforts have restored wild bison numbers from about 300 to 31,000. Witness the glory of this animal’s return at these five spots throughout the U.S. where you can see wild bison.

Yellowstone bison perceived as ‘people and dogs’ by Teslas

Bison in Yellowstone National Park are massive creatures that can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, yet to a Tesla they are recognized as something else entirely.

Bison are the largest land animals in North America and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, yet to a Tesla they are recognized as something else entirely.

Trent Sizemore, who conducts photography workshops in Yellowstone National Park, provided the revelation recently after driving alongside a bison herd while using his Tesla Vision feature.

“I’ve been hoping to drive by some bison to see what our Tesla sees them as,” Sizemore explained on Instagram. “Apparently, they’re people, and then large and small dogs.”

Tesla Vision is a camera-based autopilot system used in newer models. Part of the feature helps discern the environment around vehicles.

As viewers can see, the bison are perceived as humans that, in some cases, appear to be transformed into dogs.

(Sizemore told FTW Outdoors that he was using only the visualization feature and not the self-driving mode.)

His Instagram followers were intrigued and amused and one aptly chimed in, “AI only goes so far.”

Click here to view the same footage as a Facebook Reel.

Llama loose in Yellowstone after being spooked by bison

A llama that escaped during a commercial trekking expedition in Yellowstone National Park has been on the loose since Aug. 12.

A llama that escaped during a commercial pack trip in Yellowstone National Park has been on the loose since Aug. 12.

Susi Huelsmeyer-Sinay, owner of the Yellowstone Llamas, told FTW Outdoors that the llama was tethered with other llamas near a Lamar Valley trailhead when bison stampeded through the area.

“He was terrified when a group of bison thundered through camp and ran towards the trailhead and the trailer he knows,” Huelsmeyer-Sinay said, adding that the llama, Joaquin, broke his tether. “[Then] he was diverted again by a group of bison milling around the area.”

Buckrail reported that a Yellowstone Llamas guide waited at the trailhead overnight but Joaquin “did not come back.”

Trout Lake image courtesy of NPS/Dave Krueger

Huelsmeyer-Sinay said Joaquin was sighted near Trout Lake on Aug. 14. But he has not been seen since. The search effort has focused around Trout Lake, Buck Lake and Shrimp Lake, north and northeast of the trailhead.

“Wolf watchers, wildlife companies, construction crews, horse outfitters, Park Service staff, and park visitors have been alerted,” Huelsmeyer-Sinay added. “We are still hiking the area and encouraging hikers to keep an eye out for Joaquin, who may still be dragging his line.”

Joaquin is a tall, brown llama with a white face. Anyone who spots the animal is asked to call the Yellowstone Backcountry Office at 307-344-2160.

While Joaquin faces danger from bears and wolves, another llama named Lewis once survived three months alone in the park before being located by Huelsmeyer-Sinay and led back without a harness.

Yellowstone Llamas is a licensed outfitter that specializes in single and multi-day pack trips.

–Image showing Joaquin is courtesy of Yellowstone Llamas

Watch: Bull elk has last laugh after being taunted by motorist

Video footage captured in the Rockies shows why tourists should never taunt an elk, even from inside a vehicle.

The U.S. Department of the Interior last week issued a reminder that the bison rut is underway and urged visitors on public lands to give the massive animals space.

“No matter what time of year, always stay further than 25 yards away!” the agency cautioned. (Click here to witness the astonishing power of bison during a 2020 mating-season skirmish in Yellowstone National Park.)

Since the elk rut follows the bison rut in the Rockies, similar advisories are forthcoming because elk also are strong and unpredictable, and as dangerous as bison.

But, as with bison, bull elk do not need to be in the rut to become agitated, and this is illustrated wonderfully in the accompanying footage, which went viral last year.

As viewers can see, the motorist is taunting the elk through an open window while driving slowly toward the animal on a highway. “Watch out buddy,” the man goads, adding, “You wanna fight?”

The elk responded by plowing its antlers into the vehicle’s left front tire, leaving the motorist with a flat. The clip ends with an expletive issued from his female passenger.

–Generic elk image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Watch: Awesome power on display during Yellowstone bison rut

Dramatic footage showing a bison fight on a Yellowstone highway should remind tourists why the animals should be afforded a wide berth.

The U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday reminded those who visit public lands that the bison rut is underway and that people should be extra careful around the massive animals.

“Male bison are particularly aggressive now, as they congregate in herds to compete, socialize and breed,” the agency explained in a video tweet. “Bulls are on high alert and can get aggravated easily. No matter what time of year, always stay further than 25 yards away!”

For those who wonder just how forceful a male bison can be during the mating season, check out the awesome power on display in the following footage, captured three years ago in Yellowstone National Park.

It shows an angry bison ramming, lifting and propelling another bison 30 feet off the highway.

Male bison can weigh 2,000 pounds, and the animals can run up to 30 mph. They warrant respect at all times, but particularly during the July-August rut.