Bison calves AKA - 'Red Dogs'

12 TITANIUM

Bison

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* Best experienced full screen

Hundestrand in St Peter Ording mit Leuchtturm Westerhever Strand

End of the dogs beach

Bison cow and Red-dog calf

Bison Calf

I really enjoy watching these spring calves with so much energy and curiosity.

Bison Calf AKA - Red Dog

Bison cow and calf

I would not have thought to find a young "red dog" bison OR wildflowers in October in Yellowstone, but here they are. On second look, thanks Judy, those just might be yellow leaves not yellow flowers. Fooled me.

This trip was all about wildlife for me and I had some different tools, my 400mm f/2.8 and my 70-200 f/2.8. I photographed Bison in four of the six areas I visited, and on occasion they were causing "bison jams" on the roads. No jam here, as this was rather off the beaten path so to speak, but it was raining off and on, so the f/2.8 and short zoom came in handy. Standing on the doorjam of my "rolling blind", btw.

This had to be one the most patient and interactive Bison moms I have ever seen. She let her little guy head butt her over and over again. It was so amazing to watch the interaction between these two.

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For me, the most iconic symbol of the American West is the bison. Once hunted to near extinction, they have made a great comeback through the conservation efforts of many generations. Here a small calf (most were much larger and had lost their reddish color) appears safe in the company of a large bull. They had just crossed the Firehole River and were moving with the rest of the herd to a new meadow.

Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to view, like or comment on my photos!

© 2020 Craig Goettsch - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use without permission is prohibited.

I'd say the Red Dog is all played out.Better to stick to the beer instead.Taken across the BNSF tracks at nearly abandoned Ludlow,CA on old Route 66.

Slide well this Sunday everyone!

On my first early-morning "game drive" in Yellowstone NP this 2018 spring, I found what I went for - bison in Springtime. The light was in my favor, and a pair of little "red dogs" was running circles around the mother. In fact, if you view large, you can see the red dog's hooves are a bit of a blur. I'm actually not sure if the calves were twins or just best buds. This is just one; the other was a little out ahead. The action was fast and furious before the inevitable energy crash. I moved on thinking that was just the best. Turned out it was - best light, best close action - pretty much a major highlight of my several days there.

Since it's March which makes me think of spring, which makes me think of baby animals, this week's theme is babies!

Bison 'Red-dog' calf and cow

Lucky little red dog (young bison calf) to have a caring mama. I'm not exactly sure if this was at Custer State Park or Wind Cave NP, South Dakota since the parks are adjacent. (There is a fence somewhere along the parks road). Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of the world.

Coyote

A baby bison, aka: red dog (I just learned that term) in Yellowstone.

Called a red dog or little red, they will turn brown like their parents in about eight weeks.

Anyone who has had little kids gets this........

Yes I was that close (no crop) and no I was not in any danger. A car is one of the most effective blinds there is and I was safely sitting inside mine when this bison calf and its mom strolled by. If you are quiet and do not make any sudden moves the animals will typically not be alarmed and their behavior will remain natural. I find this true even with small, skittish birds.

Happy Friday!

Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to view, like or comment on my photos!

© 2020 Craig Goettsch - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use without permission is prohibited.

Wrapping up my twofer series with this Plains Bison cow and calf photographed in Custer State Park, South Dakota.

I'm not sure what the calf is doing, but I think its pretty entertaining.

Bison Calf, 'Red Dog'

Bison cow and Red-dog calf

Red-dog

A small bison herd crossing a field in the late afternoon light. A couple "red dog" calves safely surrounded by the adults. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, July 2025

Best viewed large. All rights reserved

Bison cow and red-dog calf

Bison cows and calves (red dogs) graze and rest on the late spring prairie, in a ritual developed over the past 12,000 years. Over that time a variety of predation threats have appeared and disappeared as climate has changed and species have gone extinct. Humans have directly and indirectly played a part as hunters on bison and hunters on the hunters of bison. Most folks know about the dramatic decline and near-extinction of bison in the late 19th century when Euro-Americans slaughtered herds to disrupt the close dependence of indigenous peoples on these remarkable animals. Thankfully the herds of bison continue to make a return, including these bison that are part of a group 1400 strong.

From that same wet morning in YNP with the bison and the scratching posts (Mark pointed out the big tree on the right was plenty well worn as well), here's the little "red dog" posted a couple of months ago. Mostly this trip was for me all about using my new 400mm prime. After driving some 3500 miles, I finally figured out it was OK if I toured with a shorter zoom on my other body for scenics and close-proximity big animals like this one. Duhhh.

Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

It's red dog season again in Yellowstone. They call newborn bison 'red dogs' because of their fur color when born. They sure are cute. This little one had its mother watching over him during a light snow fall. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, May 2025

Best viewed large. All rights reserved

Bison 'Red-dog' calf

Happy Tatanka Tuesday. This red dog bison calf looks like it might be licking its chops to enjoy some lupin ... or it has allergies. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, June 2026

Best viewed large. All rights reserved

"Bison were an amazing resource for the First Nations people who lived on the plains. However, within a single human lifetime, bison in North America were hunted from the tens of millions to less than a thousand individuals scattered across the continent."

Red-dog

red dog

A little early practice for two young bulls at least seven years shy of being capable of battling like the two I posted yesterday. Thanks to James Page for enlightening me on the age of maturity and prime mating years of Plains Bison. For more info on that, read James' comment below.

The American bison is the largest land animal in North America and is symbolic of the United States. They can weigh up to 2800 pounds and are at home in the harsh winters of Yellowstone National Park. This mother and baby were part of a small herd we saw in the Blacktail Pond area on a cold, snowy day. The calf was the only one we saw in this herd. They are cute little critters, sometimes called "red dogs" locally. Bison are not to be messed with. They can be bad tempered, dangerous, and will attack without warning. More tourists are injured by bison than by bears in Yellowstone.

Group cover photo, "Tall Tails of Animals" October 22, 2016.

Bison Cow and Red-dog calf

Bison in Yellowstone with "Red Dog" calf