Earlier this year...in the Yellowstone National Park Our time in the Park was coming to an end, we were traveling back to Gardiner MT,when this winter storm hit. Weather was deteriorating fast. Outside car windows it was looking serious. Visibility was near zero and the winds were blowing fast and strong. Oddly enough we felt fortunate to be in a warm and sheltering car. As we negotiated one of the turns, my attention was stolen by a movement to my left. Vaguely visible thru the horizontally blowing snow I saw a shape of a young bison. It stood still for a moment than was moving slow and with a great difficulty. Just ahead of it, was its herd mate. It also stood for a second there than it started moving as if to guide the one struggling. I pulled over, and started photographing. Both animals seemed oblivious to my presence; the storm was forcing them to act. The guiding bison, as if on cue, turned its head away from the struggling animal and walked on. It never looked back, or returned... I kept on photographing the one left behind, than I noticed it…its hind, right leg was broken just below the ankle. This bison was keeping its injury airborne, and was walking on three legs with an obvious struggle. This animal was determined. With its herd partner disappearing, the injured animal was willing to follow. It hobbled painfully, and it took long pauses, but it kept moving. I watched it completely disappear in the storm. Photographing at this point was impossible…lens was covered with snow, I was very cold and getting wet. We left sobered by what we just saw, both quietly wishing human outcomes for that animal. Next morning we returned to the area. There was something in the air …eerie energy, for the lack of better term. Flock of excited ravens, and a perched bald eagle gave it away. Confirmation followed when in the vicinity we heard wolf pack howl, then we saw pack members disperse from the area. There was an overnight kill. https://facebook/thomasszajnerphotography
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:16:03 +0000
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