A few weeks ago, we moved the buffalo into the pasture that borders the Cheyenne River in preparation for moving them onto their winter pasture on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Each time we do this, I am reminded of the first epic event that took place 14 years ago.
In order to allow our buffalo to cross the Cheyenne River to graze on the national grasslands (the buffalo’s former home for thousands of years), we first had to petition the Forest Service to include the American Bison as an allowed grazing species. Until then, they were not on the list.
We then had a grand celebration in honor of the buffalo returning to the home they hadn't been on for over 150 years. Friends, customers and Native American neighbors dressed in regalia showed up for the event. There were horses with riders, drums and songs and a whole lot of emotion. In short, it was awesome!
Over time, the buffalo have intuitively come to know when it's time to cross the river and moving them has become relatively easy. And over time, the crowd has thinned.
This year our crew consisted of daughter Jilian and husband Colton with new baby Barret (his first buffalo moving experience) in the lead truck, loaded with an alfalfa/mineral cake to encourage the bison to follow. In charge of the backend of the herd in a side-by-side ATV, was Dan and now savvy buffalo mover, 3-year-old grandson Lincoln.
The buffalo were about a mile from the river as the crow flies, with pockets of them tucked into the higher hillside. We were loosing light and I was hoping to capture a short video when we got to the river.
Jilian and Colton pounded the pick-up in a drum like fashion and called “come buffers, come buffers” as they released the alfalfa cake, and Dan and Lincoln zigzagged the hillside picking up the stragglers.
A group of cake lovers followed the truck closely, with the mass of the herd being brought up by Dan and Lincoln.
I tried to stay ahead, wanting to secure a position by the river. Before my last gate, a beautiful buck rose up from the grass that kept him hidden and with one graceful leap jumped the fence. Wow! Exhilarated, I headed for the river and hoped I wouldn’t get stuck. The clouds were starting to blush as the light continued to slip, but it was beautiful. And even without all the fanfare it was awesome!
Here’s a short video that shows a bit more of the process. Although it’s not so good, I hope you enjoy it. Cheers!
Jill
46 comments
What an awesome video! I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Don’t ever sell yourself short. Your video is a window we rarely get to look through.
Thanks!
Hi Folks,
Dan, I have read your books but nothing matches the feelings that ‘well up’ when watching Jills’ video.
Thank you.
John
Spectacular and beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Such amazing and beautiful creatures. Love to see them roaming. Thank you for sharing! And thank you for all you do, and your approach to it all. So honoring and respectful.
For those of us that live in cities we look at your lives out there and say, “ Wow, it can still exist. The wildness, the open space, the movement and natural cycle of our earth and all its creatures including people!”
This creates a smile on us all…thanks for sharing.
What a lift to the spirits your video is, Jill. No apologies necessary—it is beautiful. As is your family. How lucky your two grandsons are to be raised amid all this beauty and joy and wonder. I think a lot of the ills of our poor suffering nation would be cured if more children were raised like this.
Thank you. Wonderful to see the Buffalo on the range as they were meant to be. So glad you all are there.
This is a wonderful video, Jill! I think it’s just great and will be sure to play it again. And again.
Hugs to all – I love you guys!
Awesome as always. Thanks.?
Loved the story and video. Keep up the good work and may God bless you and yours.
That was so BEAUTIFUL!!! It made me cry. . .
Will Harris , fifth generation White Oak Pastures rancher, once told me that most alfalfa he feeds during the dry season in Southern Georgia is GMO ,because the alternative is organic. As a purist , I would like to know the origin of the alfalfa in the cakes. Not wanting to post ,but request the knowledge.
Thank you so much for sharing that video. What beautiful creatures they are and what a sight to see them moving like that!
Thanks for sharing Jill! I was fortunate to experience this once a while back. The memory is imbedded in my my mind … hopefully forever. I loved the way they reacted once they realized that it was time to “go home”. Getting them back, I understand, is a different story ?
That was an awesome video and thank you so much for sharing! I actually saw a buffalo in a valley not to far away from us one night when my husband and I were going out to dinner. I just love looking at them. Thanks again!