American Bison in the Snow by PhrankPower

Photography • Animals • posted on Jan 14, 2010

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Description

We had a light dusting here in Memphis last week, and here's one of our Buffalo friends out at Shelby Farms. Since the snow was light, they were still able to graze. Julia "lil sizzler"and I never tire of photographing these massive, yet quite gentle animals. Difficult to comprehend how they used to leave massive mile after mile of their murdered carcasses to rot out on the Great Plains, shooting just for the fun of it, and making heroes such as Buffalo Bill out of those who took the most lives. But the pendulum has swung once again. The buffalo are making a splendid comeback, and Buffalo Bill is burning somewhere in hell, or perhaps better yet he was reincarnated as a stray, abused animal. Whatever. Although the Bison usually ignore people who come to the fence, when Julia visits they always come over to see her. Every time. I don't know why and neither does she, but it's sure to happen. She'll talk to them and pick sand spurs out of their hair. So I always get better photos when she's there with me! When I told the park management (whom I do some volunteer work for) about the buffalo reaction to Julia they didn't believe me and strongly cautioned against it. "She grooms the Buffalo??!!??" But I think it's good for both of them. marshall

Comments (11)

wingnut55

2:50PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

interesting portrait, which catches the strength in the animal's shoulders. you are lucky to be married to a bison-whisperer...

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tstray1

2:56PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

Beautiful shot.

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danapommet

4:50PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

Powerful capture and great narrative. Dana

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dadon72

5:29PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

Great shot of a magestic creature.

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HappyDance

5:49PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

the atmosphere/gestalt of the photo creates a wonderful story in my head...

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LovelyPoetess

10:46PM | Thu, 14 January 2010

What a great shot!!!! And your story that goes with it is wonderful : )

whaleman

12:37AM | Fri, 15 January 2010

Nice shot! I see them often grazing in snow over a foot deep. They just push it aside with that massive head until they reach the ground and it doesn't seem to bother them at all. Be careful with the touching as they can become scared very quickly and no fence could stop them if they want to go through it. If you see them raise their tail, you better back off quickly.

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