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response 90 of 603:
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Feb 27 17:04 UTC 1994 |
those numbers are considerably reduced. It all began with
prehistoric Buffalo. Prehistoric Buffalo are believed to have traveled
over the land bridge that ran from Siberia to North America. About a
million years ago. The first Buffalo were called Bison Latiforms. They
were very large and had long horns. Bison Latiforms migrated as far
as Northern Mexico. The next buffalo to come along were called Bison
Taylori. Also there were Bison Occudentalis. As time past Bison
Latiforms became extinct, followed by Bison Taylori. The Bison
Occudentalis lived to be the progenitor of the present buffalo.
Coronado's scouts were the first white men to see the great
Buffalo. They ran into herds of buffalo while on scouting missions.
Some scouts were amazed at the number of Buffalo in a single herd.
Some were scared by the sheer enormity of herds, other fainted of
terror, others of suprise.
Obviously, Buffalo migrate, as do most other non-hibernating
species. People used to believe that they (Buffalo) went South for the
winter. Logically, coming back North in Spring. Well, they were
wrong. Buffalo just wonder. They have no particular time nor place.
A herd will travel in any given direction at any time, usually
travailing about one-hundred miles. Some always travel at winter
time, but generally they (Buffalo) don't have any migration pattern.
They moved at quite a fast pace, this was due to lack of food,
and water. Water holes were about four days apart! They slept in
sheltered areas, when one could be found. They shelter protected
from snow, hail, rain, or any other sort of bad weather.
When Buffalo traveled they made trails. These trails were
extremely easy to follow for many reasons, the grass had been
trampled, the food and shrubs had been eaten or nibbled, and water
holes were drunken dry. Pioneers refered to the trails as "Bison
Streets".
When you were travailing Bison Streets were by far the best
and safest way to travel. They led to food and water, and were
always the quickest way to go.
Buffalo skulls had many strange uses on trails, they would be
used as mile stones. Or strangely enough, people would carve mess-
ages in them. If they knew a fellow Pioneer or friend would be on
the trail, they would carve the message in a skull. And set the skull
in the middle of the road.
Buffalo were not very precise about where the went, but they
were about the way they traveled. they always walked in a single
file line, about two feet apart. They walked in order of ranking or
position in the herd.
When Buffalo approached a river, the logical way to cross it was
to "ford it". Rivers didn't stop the Buffalo herds. In fact, they were
very good swimmers. Regardless of their swimming abilities,
Buffalo always crossed the river in places they knew. They wanted to
be sure of the depth, and the length of the area they crossed. When
the rivers froze they simply walked across the ice. But sometimes
their tremendous weight proved to present a problem. In Spring
when the ice began to thaw, many Buffalo died by falling through the
ice. The current was strong, and it was hard to get away. Some did,
but many died.
When mating season came around, bulls fought over cows. The
bulls who fought were young. When they saw each other they would
slowly back away. Then when they were about fifteen feet apart,
they would dart at each other. With locked horns they would push,
their huge muscles struggling under the confines of their skin. When
one finally gave way toppling to the ground his opponent would be
on him in a flash. His massive horns tearing away at his foe's flesh.
And trampling him with his powerful hooves. Their battle would
rage on until one was gored to death. The females would hardly
notice the battle blazing in their midst. They would stand solemnly
chewing their cud.
When April came around, it was the beginning of Calves being
born. They were born in April, May, and Early June. The Calves were
rather ugly at first. They were a reddish buff color, and very stocky.
Their necks were short compared to other Buffalo. They also had
very small humps on their backs. They actually looked slightly like a
miniaturized older buffalo. Cows are able to have calves for over
thirty years!
When it comes to good mothering, count the cows out.
They were very unpredictable. When their young were in danger
sometimes they would just sit around and pay no attention to their
child being in peril! But other times they would fight brutally to the
death for their Calves safety.
Some animals shed. Shedding is removing old fur, skin etc. to
make room for new. Buffalo removed their thick winter coats so their
smooth, soft, summer coats could grow. They would rub against
trees to remove the excess fur. Shedding was no fun, it hurt! They
would get cuts from sharp tree bark! Bugs such as fleas, mosquitos,
bees, and wasps, would bite at the unprotected skin, before the new
fur grew! The bugs would come in huge swarms! Some spread
infection or disease! Many Buffalo were killed by these swarms.
"Cow Birds", ate the pests that plagued the Buffalo, still many died.
Wallowing was was very popular with Buffalo. Buffalo
wallowed to rid them selves of insects that pestered them, shreds of
fur, and also to scratch bug bites. Wallowing consisted of digging,
pawing, kicking, and rolling in sod. It wore a deep hole in the ground.
Buffalo loved it when it had rained. The soil had turned to mud. They
submerged them selves in the mud and relaxed.
Yearlings were half grown bulls. They were about a year old
and rather tawny. They usually stayed at the edge of the herd.
Generally yearling were mad. Mad at their mothers for deserting
them. Yearlings had to live with a lot of pain. The herd wouldn't wait
for a yearling. Or pay attention to them, they would be trampled, or
drown fording a river. And sometimes they couldn't get their share
of food from the other bigger stronger Buffalo and starved to death.
Some bulls were white. Sometimes it was only their fur, but
some bulls were albino. Albino means lacking in pigment. Pioneers
and Indians called them "Ghost Bison". Indians thought the white
Buffalo were magical. The Indians would not kill or sell a white
buffalo pelt, or hide. They would only kill one if it was absolutely
necessary. And even then they would hesitate. Some famous Indian
chiefs would wear white buffalo cloaks in battle. They thought the
magical fur would protect them from bullets, spears, arrows or
anything else that might endanger their lives. In 1882 white pelts sold for
$200.00 vs. $1.00-$3.00 for ordinary pelts!
White Buffalo were not always entirely white. The small curly
mane around their necks was sometimes brown or black. Sometimes
there would be spots of other colors on their white hides. And
sometimes their fur was a dull greyish white color. White Buffalo are
very hard to find these days. Most white buffalo fur you see these
days is dyed. White Buffalos are now only living on wild life
reserves. They are illegal to shoot. Only very few are killed by
poachers.
As people these days sometimes socialize around a water cooler
at work. Buffalo would socialize around the water hole, or other
sources of water such as lakes, rivers, and creeks. The Pioneers called
them "tanks". That phrase came from water tank.
STAMPEED! This was a frequent cry herd from farmers. Usually
Buffalo moved at a reasonable pace, taking their time and stopping to
rest. But one drop of rain would send them on their way! They would
race across the plains. Their hooves pounding on the rough dirt of the
plains. If one of them lost their footing sprawling to the ground it
was sure death. They would be trampled by the frenzied Buffalo.
Sometimes unlucky herds of Buffalo would be caught in a
blizzard. Their fur was protective. But not protective enough. The
harsh winds killed many. They couldn't move in the deep snow. The
snow reached depths of up to four feet! Many were frost-bitten, and
died of the cold. Only a few made it. They were considered very
lucky. Even if they survived the blizzard they wouldn't live much
longer, because of severe colds.
When Buffalo got old and couldn't keep up with the herd, they
would lag behind. There for becoming an outcast. They would fall far
behind the herd, stopping to rest often. They would be stalked by the
fierce wolves. The wolves were waiting for him to stop and rest to
make their prey. They would pounce on him tearing him apart. Then
they would eat the tattered remains of the body.
Strong and ruthless: the Grizzly of the Great Plains. They
roamed the plains in search of food. They were very large and
required a lot of food. Bears ate cows, small game, outcasts and other
animals. When preying on outcasts and cows a bear could rely on his
raw power. But when stalking antelope or muledeer (now extinct), he
had to rely on his stealth. Antelope and mule deer were much faster.
A bear would sneak up on a herd of Buffalo. If he was lucky they
wouldn't catch his smell, but if they did . . . . The Buffalo would
charge forming a huge wall with their muscular bodies. The bear
would surely be hurt if not killed. Bears were hardly able to feast on
Buffalo, cows or calves. They Buffalo were just to strong.
Buffalo were strange animals, and the ones that are still left
remain to be. They contributed a lot to life. They were the sole food
of the Indians. If it wern't for Buffalo the Indian race would surely
have died out. Buffalo may look mean, but under that mask is a nice
animal, that has made it's fair contribution to the world.
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