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Rare Wild White Bison Born In Yellowstone, Photographer Gets Photos
Cowboy State Daily ^ | June 05, 2024 | Mark Heinz

Posted on 06/07/2024 7:08:59 AM PDT by Red Badger

This white bison calf was born Tuesday afternoon in Yellowstone National Park. (Courtesy Erin Braaten)

A rare white bison calf was born late Tuesday in Yellowstone National Park. A wildlife photographer originally thought it was a coyote until she looked back and saw the calf. "It was amazing," she said.

In a rare event, a white bison calf was born in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Park visitor and wildlife photographer Erin Braaten was there at just the right time to practically witness the calf’s birth in Yellowstone’s famed and wildlife-rich Lamar Valley.

“The afterbirth, the placenta was still there, and the calf was just standing up,” she told Cowboy State Daily during a telephone conversation Wednesday before she and her family headed back out of cellphone service.

Braaten is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer from Kalispell, Montana. She and her family visit Yellowstone two or three times a year, but she never dreamed she’d be lucky enough to see such a rarity as a white bison calf taking its first steps.

How Rare? Wild white bison calves are very rare, according to the National Bison Association.

A white bison calf was born in May 2023 at Bear River State Park near Evanston.

That calf, however, was white because of genetics from Charolais cattle, whereas the wild calf born in Yellowstone is likely a pure product of nature.

Cowboy State Daily reached out to the association and the National Park Service, which manages Yellowstone's wildlife, to confirm the rarity of the wild white bison in the park, but did not hear back before this story was posted.

‘I thought Maybe It Was A Coyote’ Braaten said that at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the day was going like a typical visit to Yellowstone, as she and her family drove in preparing for a camping trip.

Then she caught a glimpse of something that made the trip anything but typical.

“We were just driving along, and there were some bison crossing the road. I was looking back, and I saw what I thought maybe was a coyote,” she said.

But a closer look revealed a true wonder.

“We were totally surprised,” she said. “It was a white bison calf.”

A Sign Of Hope Braaten and her family stopped to admire the little calf and its mother. And she managed to get some photos from a safe, respectful distance.

“The calf was so tiny, it was amazing,” she said, adding that there was no way to determine whether it was a male or female.

She said that they planned to go back to the area later Wednesday to see if they could catch another look, and perhaps some more photos of the white calf.

Braaten said she has Native American heritage, and from what she understands, the birth of a white Bison calf has profound meaning. It’s a symbol of hope, and that was good to see given the current state of things in America.

“It’s a great blessing. It’s a good omen,” she said. “It means there could be a good change coming.”

Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com



TOPICS: History; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Religion
KEYWORDS:
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To: mad_as_he$$

It’s not binary /S


41 posted on 06/07/2024 8:20:15 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: Red Badger

https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2023/05/11/what-white-buffalo-calf-tells-us-about-indigenous-history


42 posted on 06/07/2024 8:21:36 AM PDT by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: Red Badger

1 in 10 million chance.


43 posted on 06/07/2024 8:25:49 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: Red Badger

It be priveleged.


44 posted on 06/07/2024 8:45:41 AM PDT by beethovenfan (The REAL Great Reset will be when Jesus returns. )
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To: packagingguy

“signaling a time of great change and spiritual awakening.”

We seem to be there.


45 posted on 06/07/2024 9:16:38 AM PDT by dljordan (What would Michael Collins do?)
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To: Red Badger

I’ve seen a couple over the years. Several years back one was born in the High Plains area. The tribe considered it an omen and got in a squabble over who should have it till someone shot it dead.


46 posted on 06/07/2024 9:28:09 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( Government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is force!--G. Washington)
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To: mware

***The White Buffalo on Rin Tin Tin***

I remember that! It had a slight echo chamber sound to it!


47 posted on 06/07/2024 9:30:12 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( Government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is force!--G. Washington)
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To: mad_as_he$$

Morning,
This is the second one I’ve heard of; 1st near you north of Reno. CU’s mascot was named Ralph until they checked...Then Ralphie.


48 posted on 06/07/2024 9:31:00 AM PDT by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Yes!!! I remember that too. I had a crush on Lt. Rip Masters.


49 posted on 06/07/2024 9:32:03 AM PDT by mware
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To: shotgun

You don’t have a clue.


50 posted on 06/07/2024 11:39:51 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

It’s not white meat, pale face.


51 posted on 06/07/2024 11:41:35 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: Iowa Granny; Ladysmith; Diana in Wisconsin; JLO; sergeantdave; damncat; phantomworker; joesnuffy; ..
Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.
52 posted on 06/07/2024 11:43:28 AM PDT by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do)
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To: laplata

Fact Check:

Albino meat is classified as white meat according to the FDA.

TRUE


53 posted on 06/07/2024 11:49:26 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Maybe so, but that calf is not an albino.


54 posted on 06/07/2024 11:57:14 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: nwrep

Nope. This whitey is an extremely rare occurrence...just like the lefties want with us.


55 posted on 06/07/2024 12:09:42 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: laplata

—> Maybe so, but that calf is not an albino.

We need to cut it open and verify to be sure!


56 posted on 06/07/2024 12:24:07 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

I’ve done enough of that with elk and deer and cattle. I’ll pass.


57 posted on 06/07/2024 1:11:30 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: mware; Ruy Dias de Bivar

http://www.thinhippo.com/steve/whitebuffalo.html


58 posted on 06/07/2024 2:45:53 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (In my defense, I was left unsupervised.)
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To: escapefromboston
Charles Bronson will take care of it

My first thought when I saw the headline.

"White Buffalo" with Charles Bronson — Movie Trailer


59 posted on 06/07/2024 6:52:12 PM PDT by OneVike ( Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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