I saw the baby bison that tourists tried to rescue. Here’s what you don’t know...

WashingtonPost.com ^ | 6/7/2016 | Deby Dixon

[raybbr]

GARDINER, Mont. — I met the bison calf that took a ride in an SUV early one evening as I drove west in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley, past the pullout known as “Picnic.” The late afternoon sun on a stormy landscape provided the light that we photographers dream of for shooting gorgeous mountains in the distance and wild animals on the horizon.

I spotted the calf near the road and all alone. It was crying out and seemed to be looking for its mother, but no other bison was anywhere close by. Instantly, I knew three things: The calf was orphaned or had become separated from its mother. The calf would not be adopted by another cow and could not survive alone, and so it was just a matter of time before it died or was killed. And I wanted a photo of that calf, in order to remember its short life.

Every year in Lamar Valley, we see bison calves by themselves, destined to perish. Their mothers might have died in childbirth, abandoned them or become separated during a river crossing. We watch as the calf runs from cow to cow, looking for its mother. We watch the other cows react with violence, particularly if the calf attempts to nurse. A wild bison cow will not adopt another’s calf. I have seen calves take up with bulls, which sometimes tolerate them. But eventually the calves are too weak to keep up during the daily roaming and are most likely captured by a coyote, wolf or bear.

[justa-hairyape]

Always assume a government spokesman is wrong. Especially when they blame private citizens for their actions. The only reason post modern government exists is too lie.

[minnesota_bound]

#3 My family adopted him.

[Drango]

You can’t fool me, that’s a movie (I think). I saw the REAL bigfoot.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

You mean Bigfoot is used by some aliens to get to the bottom of things?