Archive for the ‘Bison’ Tag
A Northern river otter leaves behind tracks in the snow on Seedskadee NWR. Hop, hop, hop, hop, slide, hop, hop, hop, slide. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS. Posted on Flickr by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, 1/3/17.
The aurora borealis over Gates of the Arctic National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/12/16.
The winter view of Longs Peak from the Dream Lake Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is an epic sight. The wind kicks up a flurry of snow, sweeping the massive mountain and sending a chill we can feel through the screen. Does this make you want to put on your boots or slide under a blanket? Photo by Brandon Selinsky. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/10/16.
A bison in Grand Teton National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/8/17.
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Bison at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. Photo by Jim Carr, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From the US Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
A bison walking by the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Photo by Jennifer Michaud. From the Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
A resting bison at Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. In 1907, the American Bison Society and the New York Zoological Society donated 15 bison to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Today the refuge’s herd includes an estimated 650 bison. Photo by Nils Axelsen. From the Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
Bison herd on the move. Photo by Neal Herbert, National Park Service. From the Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
Bison standing in the snow at the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From the Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
A bison charging through a river at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Donald Higgs. From the Department of the Interior blog, published 5/9/16.
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15 Facts About Our National Mammal
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Walking in the deep snow can be difficult. Bison use their strong necks to push forward and make a path, their shaggy faces keep them from getting too cold and they take turns leading the way. These adaptations allow them to thrive in the harsh winter conditions of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Photo by Jim Peaco, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/23/16.
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This is Sparky, one tough bison at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. In summer 2013, Sparky was struck by lightning on his shoulder hump. Not expected to survive at first, Sparky has thrived since his recovery. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/8/16.
Can you imagine being struck by lightning? Sparky, a bison at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa knows exactly what it’s like! Sparky was struck in 2013, and is doing surprisingly well. We recently checked in with Wildlife Biologist Karen Viste-Sparkman to learn more about Sparky’s amazing story.
Sparky joined the herd at Neal Smith in 2006 after being transferred from the National Bison Range in Montana. As you may have guessed, Sparky earned his name after the lightning strike and is the only bison that has been struck at the refuge – although it does occasionally happen across the country.
Karen does regular checks on the bison to watch for signs of illness and check body condition. During a survey in late July 2013, she noticed a bull standing by himself. When she took a closer look through her binoculars, she noticed that Sparky looked bloody. This wasn’t entirely surprising because bison bulls will often fight during the mating season and July tends to be a prime time for injuries. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that Sparky had been burned over a large area. His hump was missing hair and there was a large lump on his hind leg, which must have been the exit wound, meaning Sparky was laying down at the time of the strike.
Sparky was thin after the strike and wasn’t expected to live long. Since a lightning strike is something that could easily occur in wild bison anywhere, the refuge let nature take its course. There are no natural predators in the bison area, so injured bison are monitored regularly and euthanized if they’re unable to eat or walk. Sparky was standing when his injuries were discovered, which was a promising sign. Karen kept checking on Sparky and was able to watch his wounds slowly heal. With a limp, Sparky kept walking.
At 11 years old and about 1,600 pounds, Sparky is a bit thinner than the rest of the bison, but he still stands strong. Before being struck, Sparky fathered three calves. Genetic testing will tell us if he successfully reproduced after the strike, but we’re hoping that he does because he’s one tough bison!
If you ever find yourself near Des Moines, stop by Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and see if you can spot Sparky. He tends to spend his time just like other bulls – hanging out in small groups or enjoying some quiet time alone.
— Courtney Celley, Public Affairs Specialist, Midwest Region, US Fish & Wildlife Service.
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Eric Schuette loves taking photos of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Every trip into the park can be a special moment. “The mountains were completely covered by clouds. As we hiked into the darkness you could see little signs of clearing and then just before the sun came up the clouds thinned and we were left with a beautiful winter scene looking out towards Long’s Peak.” Photo by Eric Schuette. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/21/15.
Snowy mountains are gorgeous, but can be challenging models. Casey Withers was recently at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming trying to capture the sunrise. It was a cold morning and clouds were moving in. “This shot was set up originally as a test shot as we waited for sunrise, but three minutes later the mountains were covered. Glad I was prepared.” Photo by Casey Withers. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/22/15.
This is a different kind of traffic jam at Yellowstone National Park. Bison weigh up to 2,000 lbs and can pack a lot of attitude. They can run up to 35 miles per hour, but these appear to be taking their time. Photo by Allen Beyer. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/27/15.
A perfect winter morning at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This gorgeous shot was taken at the park’s Sparks Lane in Cades Cove. Photo by Christopher Ewing. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/23/15.
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Mom & cub, captured on a bearcam in Katmai National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/7/15.
A moose in the mist in Wyoming’s Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/22/15.
Skunks are known for their scent but usually only attack when cornered or defending their young. However, this iconic smell is not their first method of defense. A skunk will growl, spit, fluff its fur, shake its tail, and stamp the ground. If you miss those telltale signs then get ready to have a bad day. This pic was captured at Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Photo by K. Theule, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/29/15.
collared lizard in Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 10/21/15.
A hidden gem in the Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park stretches across more than 70,000 acres of western North Dakota. The park preserves an area of land that profoundly impacted President Theodore Roosevelt — who protected approximately 230,000,000 acres of public land during his presidency. The park has become a beacon for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts with its abundant wildlife, scenic drives and miles of trails. Photo by Brad Starry. Posted on the US Department of the Interior blog, 10/19/15.
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Congrats the winner of the Share the Experience photo contest! Gregory Cameron Teller took home the contest’s grand prize for his touching photo of a baby polar bear and its mama at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska – an honor that includes having his photo appear on the 2016 America the Beautiful public lands pass. This was Teller’s first time visiting the wildlife refuge, and of the experience, he says, “We stayed a couple of days in a village in the refuge where bear’s frequented this part of the landscape. Moments with mothers and their cubs were just perfect; especially this shot as the cub reached up to his mother.” Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/30/15.
Your daily dose of cute: A bear cub hanging out in a tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee). Black bears give birth during hibernation, and the female bears and their cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March and early April. Photo by M&D Hills Photography.
http://www.mdhillsphotography.com. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/19/15.
Baby moose in Alaska. Photo by Bob Wicks. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/22/15.
Here’s a cute pic of one of the new bison calves at Iowa’s Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 5/7/15.
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The first baby bison of the year have arrived at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. Last week four bison calves were born on the refuge. Here’s some cute pics of one of them with its mother. Photos by Tom Wall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/15/15.
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American Avocet. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/5/15.
Puffins. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/2/15.
Bison and birds at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Photo by Nils Axelsen. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/2/15.
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