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.