Page 122 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER SPRING 2022

On a July morning last year we drove into Now here is where Kathie’s story and my story
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and hardly two part ways. This bison was still 30 yards away and I
miles in we were met by about twenty bison prom- could see it approaching quite clearly. I was totally
enading past our vehicle. Everyone on the road safe. But then matters got somewhat testy. The
stopped to watch and film these glorious animals road was higher than the ground on that side, and
as they strode by, while the bison were apparently the bison abruptly disappeared, shielded by the
oblivious to all the cars. These beasts are known drop-off. Sort of like Tom Cruise shielding himself
for their hair trigger tempers, so it is best to keep in one of those “Mission Highly Improbable”
a safe distance and to remain in your car if one movies. The animal was quite invisible now. This I
chances nearby. did not like. Was this guy using this small rise for
After these passed, we proceeded down the cover? Where, exactly, did he go? I checked my
road and could view a gathering of about a dozen
bison grazing on a small rise. They were about 60
yards away. We pulled over to watch and photo-
graph them. The creatures were completely indif-
ferent and stayed busy doing typical bison things.
We continued up the road a little farther and
came upon a larger herd in a glen. There might
have been forty bison of all ages and sizes. They
were about 40 to 50 yards away, a very safe dis-
tance for viewing and photographing. We pulled
over. I put my longest zoom lens on my camera and
unlocked the car’s back door. I couldn’t see a prob-
lem as the herd was far away. I did not want to get
out a tripod so I braced myself on the hood of the
car as I shot. The massive animals were quite
docile and seemingly unaware of our existence. I
could isolate groups and individuals in my
viewfinder. I could tell the images were wonderful.
Suddenly Kathie got agitated and ordered me
into the car. What? The herd was half a football
field away and grazing as if they were enjoying a
picnic in Eden.
Next she started honking the car horn. Was she
crazy? Was she trying to agitate the herd and get
me killed? Stop that racket.
Then she pointed to the side of the road oppo-
site from where I was looking. Son of a gun, there
was a lone bison that had picked me out and ap-
parently preferred Canon to Nikon. He, or she, I
didn’t have a bison sex check kit with me, began
trotting in our car’s direction, with purpose. I don’t
meet up with bison every day but I think this one
had malice in its heart.

122 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2022