Montana Buffalo / Bison, Pictures

Traveling around the West Yellowstone area, be prepared to see some buffalo wandering the landscape, and enjoy the thrill of viewing these magnificent creatures in their native environment.

Overview

Buffalo, or American bison, came from Asia many, many years ago, crossing over on a land bridge existing between Asia and North America. Their numbers were legendary, with estimates ranging from 30 to 75 million animals. Lewis and Clark called them the “moving multitude” and said they “darkened the whole plains.” As buffalo hunting became more and more popular, the wonderful beast soon almost disappeared. Now, there are about 15,000 free-ranging buffalo throughout North America.

Interesting Facts

The male buffalo is called a bull and often weighs over a ton, and stands 5 to 6 feet high at the shoulders.

Buffalos are agile despite their great size, and can sprint at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

When buffalo shed their winter coats in the spring, their hair will hang in tatters. You can see them rubbing against stones and trees, maybe to relieve the itching or to speed the shedding.

Best Place for Viewing Buffalo/Bison

Yellowstone National Park
West Yellowstone is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, and once you enter the park you will most certainly see some bison, particularly in Hayden Valley, and along the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. Lamar Valley is a great place to catch a glimpse of some buffalo as well as in the Mud Volcano region.

Grand Teton National Park
This national park is not far away, and if you go to the Snake River and check the sagebrush flats above the river, you will spot some bison.

Respecting Wildlife

Take these tips to heart when viewing wildlife:

• Always stay a safe distance from any wildlife. This should be at least 300 feet away. Remember, they are wild animals and unpredictable.
• Never come between a wild animal and its young.
• Don’t feed wildlife. It creates a dependency on humans.
• Never harass any wildlife.