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Each year I try to make a trip to Yellowstone National Park sometime during August to observe and photograph bison during the peak of their rutting period. At this time of year, the bison gather in large numbers to breed and it offers a great chance to view a large number of animals at once. This year I decided to concentrate on the park’s Northern herd which congregate in the scenic Lamar Valley in the Northeast corner of the park.
The park service recently released some interesting statistics about Yellowstone’s bison population, specifically the Northern herd. There are two main bison herds in Yellowstone, the Northern and the Central (Hayden Valley), with the Central herd typically being much larger. Interestingly, this year’s population estimates put the Northern herd at 2300 bison and the Central herd at only 1400. Yellowstone has an extremely diverse and intricate ecosystem and it’s always fascinating to see how the different animal populations fluctuate in relation to each other. There are many hypotheses regarding this population redistribution, but my guess is that it’s related to the very harsh winter and late snowpack experienced in the area this year.
Because of their large numbers, I think bison are sometimes overlooked by visitors that come to the park hoping to see grizzly bears or wolves. But, in my opinion, bison are one of the true gems of Yellowstone. Nowhere else in the lower 48 states can wild bison be viewed in their natural environment in such large numbers, and Yellowstone is also the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. When you stop and take the time to really observe them, you quickly earn a deep respect for these amazing animals.
I was lucky enough to camp mere minutes away from Lamar Valley, which gave me the opportunity to stay in the valley well past sunset and then return well before dawn. Lamar Valley is an impressive place and is especially spectacular in the early and late hours of the day when the glowing light adds to the already vibrant colors. If you’ve never visited, I highly recommend it.
As far as reference photography goes; it was an extremely successful trip. I can’t even count the number of painting ideas that this trip generated. But most importantly, the trip gave me a chance to reconnect with nature and it was a great reminder of why I’ve chosen the career path I have. Places like this are very special and if my paintings can help share them with those not fortunate enough to visit as often as I do, then I’ve done my job. Thanks for reading!
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