Oh what a time I had today! After checking my comments, and seeing that the vast majority of you felt I should give Yellowstone one more try, Emma and I hit the road just before 7:00. You can bet that I checked the camera three times to be sure everything was in order. :)
I was feeling a little disappointed as I entered the Hayden Valley, and no bison were in sight. For the last month I’ve literally seen hundreds of bison carpeting the floor of the valley. Maybe I was just a bit early? Eventually, they began to appear. I went up and down that section of the road three times, but I’m sure glad I did. I learned a lot.
It seems to me that there is a ritual that these male bison go through during the rutting season, and I was able to see it unfold before me. If you’re a male bison, here’s what you do…
After giving a few good guttural bellows at a chosen dust bath location, go down in the fine dust and begin to roll.
Face and neck first, and then one side while kicking up dust to coat the outer side.
Then roll your head around to get the back of your neck.
And then, onto your back with your feet in the air so that white dust covers you everywhere!
Then, sit still for a minute as the dust settles before getting up and shaking like a dog.
Once that’s all over with, start bellowing again. :) Be sure to stick your tongue out.
If a good looking lady walks by, follow her! Notice how much larger the males are than the females?
Give her a sniff, and lick your lips.
If she tries to give you the slip, run after her! :)I’m sure glad I went back for one last trip through this amazing National Park. It was our first National Park, you know, and I’m so happy Teddy Roosevelt got this accomplished!
I have several other pictures from the rest of this journey, but I think I’ll save them for tomorrow. We had one gully washer of a storm last night, and it looks like another one is on its way in a couple of minutes. I’d better get this posted before the wifi goes out. :)Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later, Judy
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