Each spring, the energetic and playful bison calves or “red dogs” join the herd. Standing out with their bright reddish-orange coats, their bursts of energy are magical moments. They fill the fields with awkward jumps, uncoordinated sprints, and joyful reactions as they learn and grow. Pictured here is a newborn red dog with mom, just minutes old, fighting against a slight breeze in an attempt to hold itself up for the first time. Photo Yellowstone National Park by Taylor Albright (www.sharetheexperience.org).  

Otter, fox, or bison, which one represents how you’re heading into 2021? Happy New Year from us! Ok 2021, let’s do this. 

Video clips from Yellowstone National Park by the National Park Service. 

No, the bison at Yellowstone #NationalPark in #Wyoming haven’t learned to fly. Yet. Despite weighing as much as 2,000 pounds, #bison are strong swimmers and can run up to 35 miles per hour. They can jump over objects 5 feet high and have excellent hearing, vision and sense of smell. Photographer Alex Walczak witnessed their power when he took this wonderful picture, “There was a whole group of them rolling around and I noticed a young bison running all over the place on the hill. I got this photo while it was in the middle of jumping and kicking like a bronco. After about 5 minutes of racing around, this young bison calmed down.” We guess it just needed to burn off some energy. Photo courtesy of Alex Walczak.

#ICYMI we’re looking back on our favorite posts of 2020. 10/10 in our #Top10of2020 #highlights #usinterior

Happy National Bison Day! Our national mammal is a shaggy symbol of strength and resilience. Their thick coats and powerful necks allow them to bulldoze their way through deep snow and find food even in the dead of winter. Social animals, they gather in large herds – their collective grunting and breathing make quite a noise. Adult males can weigh over a ton while still being able to run 35 miles an hour and jump 6 feet in the air. Most impressive. Photo of a bison at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.

This bison is enjoying a cool fall morning at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Although it looks calm, the best description of a bison’s temperament is unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. To a casual observer, a grazing bison appears slow and clumsy, but they can outrun and out-maneuver all but the fleetest horses. They can move at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop. So, be safe and watch them from a distance. Photo by Duane Weber, National Park Service.

Some days, traffic is a beast. Autumn colors, majestic bison and Colorado’s charm bring people out to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, a short trip from Denver. Visitors can walk the refuge’s 10 miles of trails or drive the 11-mile Wildlife Drive to see charismatic wildlife and stunning landscape. One of 568 national wildlife refuges across the country, we’re reminded just how much we all need space to roam. Photo by Ian Shive, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Happy birthday, National Park Service! Established in 1916 to preserve our national treasures and help tell the American story, the men and women of the National Park Service greet you with a smiling face and helping hand from world famous parks like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to little known historic and cultural sites across the country. So many of us remember our first trips to parks and the powerful stories, amazing sights and thrilling experiences that keep us connected to these special places. Thanks for celebrating with us! Photo at Yellowstone National Park by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.

Roam, bison style, under a gorgeous sky. The magnificent Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma includes 8,570 acres of designated wilderness and beautiful places to roam. Home to approximately 650 American bison, this stunning prairie land also provides habitat for bison, white-tailed deer, elk, Texas longhorn cattle, and more than 240 bird and 50 mammal species. Photographer Debra Gail explains why this photo means something to her,  "I am overwhelmed by the emotions I feel when having the opportunity to photograph in this extraordinary place. I love the bison’s symbolism because they are the largest land animal in the United States, and the refuge is on the Great Plains, a land on which I feel most connected.“ Photo courtesy of Debra Gail.

Once near extinction, bison walked the tightrope of survival. If not for the foresight of a few individuals including Theodore Roosevelt, the American bison could have been gone forever. In 1956, 29 bison were brought from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska and released in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park – named in honor of the conservationist president. Today, small herds of bison roam in both units of this amazing North Dakota park – examples of the power of conservation. Photo by R. Honeyman, National Park Service.

Baby bison on the move! Also known as red dogs, bison calves are up and running within a few hours of being born. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado is home to the perfect playground for this young bison to romp. Bison calves weigh anywhere from 30-70lbs when they are born–usually sometime between late March through May. The whole herd fiercely protects the calves. During the calving season, please give the animals extra distance with your vehicle to admire their cuteness. Photo courtesy of Bob Gjestvang.