The Extermination of the American BisonHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
History
The Extermination of the American Bison
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
American bison; Wildlife conservation -- United States -- Sources
While most of the calves were born on the summer ranges, many were
brought forth en route. It was the habit of the cows to retire to a
secluded spot, if possible a ravine well screened from observation,
bring forth their young, and nourish and defend them until they were
strong enough to join the herd. Calves were born all the time from March
to July, and sometimes even as late as August. On the summer ranges it
was the habit of the cows to leave the bulls at calving time, and thus
it often happened that small herds were often seen composed of bulls
only. Usually the cow produced but one calf, but twins were not
uncommon. Of course many calves were brought forth in the herd, but the
favorite habit of the cow was as stated. As soon as the young calves
were brought into the herd, which for prudential reasons occurred at the
earliest possible moment, the bulls assumed the duty of protecting them
from the wolves which at all times congregated in the vicinity of a
herd, watching for an opportunity to seize a calf or a wounded buffalo
which might be left behind. A calf always follows its mother until its
successor is appointed and installed, unless separated from her by force
of circumstances. They suck until they are nine months old, or even
older, and Mr. McNaney once saw a lusty calf suck its mother (in
January) on the Montana range several hours after she had been killed
for her skin.
When a buffalo is wounded it leaves the herd immediately and goes off as
far from the line of pursuit as it can get, to escape the rabble of
hunters, who are sure to follow the main body. If any deep ravines are
at hand the wounded animal limps away to the bottom of the deepest and
most secluded one, and gradually works his way up to its very head,
where he finds himself in a perfect cul-de-sac, barely wide enough to
admit him. Here he is so completely hidden by the high walls and
numerous bends that his pursuer must needs come within a few feet of his
horns before his huge bulk is visible. I have more than once been
astonished at the real impregnability of the retreats selected by
wounded bison. In following up wounded bulls in ravine headings it
always became too dangerous to make the last stage of the pursuit on
horseback, for fear of being caught in a passage so narrow as to insure
a fatal accident to man or horse in case of a sudden discovery of the
quarry. I have seen wounded bison shelter in situations where a single
bull could easily defend himself from a whole pack of wolves, being
completely walled in on both sides and the rear, and leaving his foes no
point of attack save his head and horns.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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