Winter River Crossing
Dec 02, 2015
Dan & I returned home just before midnight this last Thursday from a Patagonia book tour in California. We were greeted with a cold, still night and a black sky filled with stars. We awoke the next morning to a snow-covered prairie, the first snowfall of the year.
This was also the day that we would move the buffalo onto the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, their winter grazing grounds consisting of 24,000 acres of grasslands. Dan & Colton had organized a plan on the when and the how we would do this. We were discussing the buffalo gathering as we gazed out the window at the new winter scenery. A small group of buffalo had started to gather on the bottom ground with more trickling in from every direction. Then, as if on cue, they lined out in a single file for the gate that would take them across the river. “Would you look at that”, Dan said. “They must know”, Jilian replied.
A new plan was quickly put into place and our crew of five bundled up and headed out the door.
We followed the single file path to the gate where the buffalo and the birds that would travel with them, waited patiently.
Dan and I went through first, closing the gate behind us, so we could cross the river and call them over. Once we were in position, Jilian & Colton, along with little Lincoln, opened the gate and led them to the river.
They had made this crossing many times and ran along the river enthusiastically, looking for their favorite narrow and not to deep place to cross.
As always the group was led by an older cow and was the first to take the plunge into the icy cold water.
As they crossed they gathered again, as if waiting for all to get across safely.
The last bunch trickled across slowly, with a single older cow bringing up the rear.
Once all had crossed they took off climbing the river breaks and moved out onto their winter pasture.
It was a wonderful welcome home for all.
27 comments
Loved the pictures and narration! Wonderful to see unspoiled prairie. The ranch land around my small acreage was in danger of being sold off after the owner died. Thankfully, another rancher who has leased the property for more than 50 years bought it and it remains virgin ground. Yes, they run cattle but their rotational schedule keeps this land from being overgrazed. I can’t have buffalo to watch over my fence but I can’t have everything. At least I’m not going to have to look at some sub-division complete with all the “good stuff” that invariably comes with them! Keep up your wonderful work so that the many who have never seen a REAL prairie might visit you.
It saddens me to see these magnificent pictures knowing the animals exist to be slaughtered. But, then, I am one of those who eat them and I get past that knowing that’s the way of this planet and I appreciate that their days are made happy because of the way y’all treat them.
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What a beautiful sight, Jill. Brings tears to my eyes to see such a healthy and happy herd of these regal creatures making their way to their winter grounds. Could be hundreds of years ago.
Thanks for sharing the moments and pics of your beautiful family, Jill.
Yes. Happy Winter! :)