Burly bison

by Priscilla Burgers

Title

Burly bison

Artist

Priscilla Burgers

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

*** 2 TIME CONTEST WINNER ***
"Burly Bison" is a photograph of a large bison walking in the snow at Yellowstone National Park. Snow remains on his face from digging with his head in the snow for vegetation.

The American bison, found only in North America, is only distantly related to the buffalo. American bison are known for living in the Great Plains. The North American species is composed of two subspecies, the plains bison and the wood bison. Both species were hunted close to extinction during the 19th and 20th centuries, but have since rebounded. The American plains bison is no longer listed as endangered, but the wood bison is on the endangered species list in Canada. Bison are sometimes also included in the closely related genus Bos, together with cattle, gaur, kouprey and yaks, with which bison have a limited ability to interbreed.

The American bison is the largest terrestrial animal in North America. Bison are good swimmers and can cross rivers over half a mile wide. They are nomadic grazers and travel in herds. The bulls leave the herds of females at two or three years of age and join a male herd which is generally smaller than the female herds. Mature bulls rarely travel alone. Towards the end of the summer, for the reproductive season, the sexes necessarily commingle. The rutting, or mating, season lasts from June through September, with peak activity in July and August. At this time, the older bulls rejoin the herd, and fights often take place between bulls. The herd exhibits much restlessness during breeding season. The animals are belligerent, unpredictable and most dangerous.

Wallowing is a common behavior of bison. A bison wallow is a shallow depression in the soil, either wet or dry. Bison roll in these depressions, covering themselves with mud or dust. Possible explanations for wallowing behavior include grooming behavior associated with molting, male-male interaction (typically rutting behavior), social behavior for group cohesion, play behavior, relief from skin irritation due to biting insects, reduction of ectoparasite load (ticks and lice), and thermoregulation. In the process of wallowing, bison may become infected by the fatal disease anthrax, which may occur naturally in the soil.

The bison's temperament is often unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. They can move at speeds of up to 35 mph and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop.

Their most obvious weapons are the horns borne by both males and females, but their massive heads can be used as battering rams, effectively using the momentum produced by 2,000 pounds moving at 30 mph. The hind legs can also be used to kill or maim with devastating effect. At the time bison ran wild, they were rated second only to the Alaska brown bear as a potential killer, more dangerous than the grizzly bear. In the words of early naturalists, they were a dangerous, savage animal that feared no other animal and in prime condition could best any foe (except for wolves and brown bears).


FIRST PLACE CONTEST WINS:

-YOUR BEST BISON IMAGES Contest - 9/1/2015
-FAA ANIMALS IN THE SNOW Contest-12/20/2013

THIRD PLACE CONTEST WINS:

-WINTER WILDLIFE Contest - 1/30/2018
-AMERICAN BISON PHOTOGRAPHY Contest - 11/1/2016
-FAA AMAZING WILDLIFE Contest - 12/07/2014


THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS FOR FEATURING THIS IMAGE:

-SPECIAL FEATURE IN 1000 VIEWS GROUP FEATURE NOMINATED BY FELLOW ARTISTS - 3/3/2017

-Our 4-Legged Friends Group-8/25/2013
-Sensational Animals Group-11/20/2013
-Excellent Self-Taught Artists Group-12/22/2013
-Natures Amazing Beauty Group-12/22/2013
-Cards for All Occasions Group-12/22/2013
-Rock the Sales Group-12/22/2013
-A Place for All Group-12/22/2013
-PhotosRUs Group-12/22/2013
-1-2-3-4-5 Group-12/22/2013
-Versatile Photography Group-12/22/2013
-Beauty Group-12/22/2013
-Western Group-12/22/2013
-Big Sky of Art Group-12/22/2013
-Todays Best Art Group-12/22/2013
-Photography and Artwork Beauty the USA-12/22/2013
-Motivation Meditation Inspiration Group-12/23/2013
-Creators Guild Group-12/23/2013
-Artwork for Cabins Cottages and Beach Houses Group-12/24/2013
-Wildlife Group-12/25/2013
-Nature Photography Group-12/26/2013
-Comfortable Art Group-1/01/2014
-Cowgirl Group-02/17/2014
-Animals of the World Group - 4/11/2015
-10 Plus Group - 4/12/2015
-500 Views Group - 4/23/2015
-North American Wildlife Artists and Photographers Group - 9/1/2015
-Pleasing the Eye Group - 1/6/2017
-National Parks Group - 1/9/2017
-All About Nature and the Animals Group - 1/16/2017
-Nature Landmarks Landscapes Wildlife Group - 1/24/2017
-Landscapes Flowers Animals Group - 2/24/2017
-Your Very Best Photography Group - 2/27/2017
-500 to 1000 Photo Views Group - 3/3/2017
-Abc Group - M Is For Mammal - 3/21/2017



BetterPhoto.com Photo Contest
Finalist Award:

Uploaded

July 17th, 2013

Statistics

Viewed 1,871 Times  -  Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 04/24/2024 at 6:24 AM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags