Season of the Buffalo
~ Mary Burrows
May Moon of Green Leaves: A time of burgeoning life in Paha Sapa along Squaw Creek and Lame Johnny country. Air heavy with a joyously welcomed Spring moisture filters the light into a haze, muting all colors. Bison herds are matriarchal, and bulls are generally absent the herd during birthing time. A lone animal under a blooming tree is female and probably performing a sentinel role. Babies are able to keep up with the moving herd by the time they are three days old. Moon of Wild Strawberries: Wild plums and wild roses greening up and bursting forth with blossom highlight the now verdant meadows and hillsides. It is unusual to witness a bison rolling in the wallow, especially to view the exposed belly. This cow was oblivious to the photographer’s presence. Males, on the other hand, have July: Thunder Moon: Volatile weather and the beginning of the rut! The bulls rejoin the herd, announcing their presence and intentions with "roaring" vocalizations. Almost overnight, the herd, always dynamic, becomes a fast-moving organism. Babies growing up take on a brindle look as they lose the baby coat. Yellow prairie cone flowers twinkle on the landscape. August: Male bison in their prime have retired from the herds and the peaceful matrilineal society of females and youngsters resumes its roaming of hill The round-up ritual seems to have become a part of the local herd’s “knowledge,” as the story has been told that, at a certain time of year, the animals will gather at the corrals, causing great consternation to those planning a “stampede” for the benefit of thousands of on-lookers. The annual round-up serves as a time to cull the herd, sell prime stock, and administer vaccinations. And Winter approaches. 
June
The herds remain without the bulls, mothers being perfectly capable of protecting the young. 
jumped immediately to a standing position and stared intently at me, even though I was 1000 yards distant.
Communication is a complicated vocalization of grunts.
The “communicator” announces the approach of the major herd to the advance party in these photos.
Moon of Black Cherries: Paha Sapa reverberates with the roar of bison bulls in conjunction with the roar of motorcycles. August means Sturgis Motocycle Rally and the mass movement of human beings and the buffalo nation.
Pairs are bonding and breeding, and the bulls rule. Here a bonded pair
grazes prior to mating. Roaring is accompanied with extended tongue. Tree rubbing and similar behaviors are often diversionary tactics to avoid out and out confrontations.
And the bikers love the bison!
September:
Moon of Ripe Plums: Chilled air sinking over Paha Sapa has bronzed lobed burr oak leaves and created flashes of yellow within emerald ash trees, all the while setting the undergrowth aflame with scarlets and golds.
and plain, led always by the elder dominant female.
Banner Graphic: www.firstpeople.us
