A reminder from a Bison!

Like most of you I have seen the videos of foolish tourists in Yellowstone or Banff approaching bison or elk for just the perfect picture ... I always thought "what knuckleheads"; I now reluctantly include myself among the knuckleheads!

This is how one should observe and photograph North America's largest land animal:

I must say that I was seduced by an old bull who seemed to welcome me to his prairie along the Missouri near Mandan, North Dakota where he and a herd had been reintroduced to the bison range by the Nature Conservancy.

He was placid ... the rest moved away ...

a cowbird was his sidekick removing ticks

he rested

he browsed

His friendly warm eyes suggested I come closer

I never saw it coming

this might well have been the last moment of my existence as he charged

The Meadowlark laughed at my stupidity!

The Whitetail on the hill above looked on and was amused as well!

With chagrin and humility as my companions I took the walk of shame back to the car and a waiting Murphy ... little did she know what a knucklehead I had been!