Bison Patrol report
Last tuesday I had a chance to guide Thomas and Sylvia from Germany/Austria in the Bialowieza Forest. We didn’t expect much as for this time of the year, nevertheless we decided to try and go Bisoning. Just after the first meters we walked into the forest, clear Bison tracks could be seen on the path which was a good sign we were on the right track.
It is difficult to write what happened later.. You would have to be there to experience this yourself. We walked straight into a huge old bull as we approached the desired area. Having taken the photos we watched him slowly dissappearing into the forest. His every step could be felt as the ground was shaking when he walked.
We decided to stay hidden there and wait for more animals to come out feeding. We didn’t have to wait long for the next Bison to come out of the forest, and the next one, and the next.. They walked feeding straight towards us, we had a perfect position. A large summer herd of females with young already assisted by two old males preparing for the rutting season to start in the August. After a loong hour we decided to get back so we retraced our steps slowly making sure the herd was not distracted.
Enjoy the photos!
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- In the hide
They came out of the forest one by one.
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- The herd complete
And it was a hungry herd.
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- They smelled us
No wonder, we could smell them!
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- A very hungry herd
They decided we're not a threat and continued feeding
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- Coming closer
And we could feel the tension rising..
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- A family dinner
And I started thinking of the cold pizza slices I had in my rucksack but I wouldn't take them out in the Bison hide, would I? ;)
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- Last rays of light
One bull has a radio-collar. He is being tracked by the scientists from Mammal Research Institute in Bialowieza.
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- Bison Patrol, Białowieża Forest, July 2009
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- Altogether..
Not that they live in families but I managed to get a shot of a bull, a cow and a calf together.
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