Bison

Heavy, shaggy, and unhurried, the bison is the animal that once defined the Manitoba prairie, and it is still a thrill to see one grazing in the open.

Bison are the largest land mammals in North America, with a high shoulder hump, a thick dark coat, and curved horns on both males and females. Calves are born a bright reddish-tan, which is why they are often called red dogs, and they stay close to their mothers through their first summer. Herds spend most of the day grazing on grasses and sedges.

This is a favourite frame of a bison cow and her calf on a quiet, misty morning, with a second bison grazing in the prairie grass.

Bison cow with a rust-coloured calf beside her in a grassy clearing on a misty morning

Photos

  • Bison cow with a rust-coloured calf beside her in a grassy clearing on a misty morning
  • Bison grazing in a green prairie pasture with another bison resting in the distance and trees behind

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.