National Bison Day 2022
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There was the trip from Blackfoot, Idaho through the Grand Teton range traveling there and back with the spectacular cloud formations we both went through and viewed from far above. Yellowstone was a natural wonderland with the various volcanic formations actively spewing water and the many mineral spring basins filled with water so hot you could boil eggs ...
The bears, the birds, and the bison were there in the roads right along with us. I saw many things I might not ever see again and I took it all in with the wonder of a child's eyes.
When you see your first herd of bison you gain an understanding for the hugeness of these beasts and how fierce they appear. It is a wonder how they were hunted during the old days in the West, much less how they were abusively taken then poorly utilized by the selfish travelers of the time. I was impressed with these massive animals that I remember them to this day.
I find the tourists who go so far as to provoke them into attacking to be somewhat ignorant of just who lives there and who is just visiting. I know that if you maintain your distance and don't approach or alarm them they are likely to cohabitate that space and tolerate your presence quite nicely.
Today is National Bison Day and November fifth is a day we set aside to reflect on the impact bison have made on our environment and culture as that icon we see on coins, state flags, and other thing to remind us of that which we are — and were.
Though I toy with the idea of returning to the Teton Range and Yellowstone I have the stark realization that this may never happen. I am fortunate to have already experienced much of that wildlife which dwell there, like the bison.
It is fortuitous that my daddy had the foresight to realize just how important that experience would end up being for me personally.