NEWS FLASH!! We interrupt this series about work with the Peregrine Fund to reintroduce Aplomado falcons to southern New Mexico to report on local conflict… a battle of bison.
Working on site this morning we were enjoying the diversion of a herd of 100+ bison slowly grazing our way like ships on a sea of grass. There were many cows and calves as well as older males and females and one enormous bull watching over them all. This herd, one of two on Ted turner’s ranch, is purposefully not managed for hunting or commercial production and has been allowed to develop and roam as they would have in a bygone era. The bison made low growly noises, grazed, lay down to rest, rolled in the dust, thrashed and scratched themselves on the bushes and generally rearranged details of the landscape as they made their way westward less than a football field’s length south of our shelter. Their presence and activities gave clarification to the wallows and hair-covered shrubbery we had noted these past few weeks. It was a bucolic scene.
Then we noticed a lone bull making slow, deliberate progress our way from the north. As he neared the herd, its large bull came forward to meet him. These huge animals squared off not more than 30 yards from us and began a pushing, ground shaking, hair-flying battle lasting 10-15 minutes. The herd bull reasserted his dominance and made sure the contender retreated the way he had come before returning to his domain. WOW!!