SPENDING TIME WITH BISON

American Bison, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

It’s all about knowing where to find them and predicting when the light is right for a photo of the iconic American Bison in Badlands National Park. However, once more I didn’t find the herd of female bison with their calves. I tried it since three years now but had again no luck to photograph new born calves with their mothers. It’s a big area and not every part is easy to access. Instead I took my chances to work with several of the big bison bulls that stay away from the herd at this time of the year. Some of them were testing their strength for the mating season already and displayed their pure power to each other by making all kinds of noise and even bumping heads occasionally.

There are different ways to tell the story about this majestic animal. Including the Badlands in the background, with early morning light touching both, animal and landscape, leaves no doubt about the presence of the bison out in the great plains. On the other hand a detail shot of the head gives an idea how powerful this wild animal is and a worn out horn gives evidence that many challenges are waiting in their daily life.

NOT ALL GOALS WERE REACHED

American Bison, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

I thought I need to fill you in a little more about my goals for the photography trip in Badlands National Park, South Dakota last weekend. After visiting the Badlands several times before over the last fifteen years during the fall season, it has been a long desire to do the same during spring, at a time when vegetation renews and birds and critters have nothing else in mind than mating and display themselves in the best way they can.

American Bison mate in August and September and the calves are born after 285 days. The desire to visit the Badlands in spring was fueled by the idea to photograph newborn calves and their mothers. We always have seen the herd with females and their offspring in and around the Sage Creek Valley in the Badlands. Well, this time was different. While I have watched dozens of bison bulls, either solitary or in small groups, I wasn’t able to find the maternal herd. Not a single female or calve came in sight. Badlands National Park is not a small area and they probably found a remote valley where they give birth and nurture the newborn calves. I talked to another hiker and he gave me a hint where the herd might be, but this was too far away for a hike with the small amount of time I had on hand last weekend.

That’s the way it is with wildlife photography. Sometimes all stars line up perfectly and another time we get skunked and have to look for other photo opportunities. The Badlands have plenty of wildlife and there was a lot to do and who doesn’t like a close-up shot of a big bison bull? 😉