I have to say one thing about the Bison Olympic Games – they are confusing.
Last weekend I caught a glimpse of the competition in Elk Island National Park. I was trying to keep up with these wild bison as they put on quite a performance. I wasn’t always clear on the finer points of each event but I may have just been distracted by all those wonderfully toned bodies.
The first event was fairly straight forward. It was a race to the edge of the snow line. Those big bodies could move right along.
Of course, some bison didn’t fair so well. One of the smokers had to stop and catch her breath.
Then one of the younger bison quickly got left behind in the snow. She seemed to be sliding around without much traction. Perhaps she didn’t have the right hoof wax for the conditions.
Part way through the race, one delegation left in a huff. I wasn’t clear exactly what country they represented or what was their beef. I found it a bit amusing since it appeared as though they put their hoods over their heads and left in some sort of choreographed pattern.
Another group tested positive for steroids and was forced to leave the games. No wonder those bodies looked so good.
The next performance was confusing. It seemed to be some sort of judged event that involved a lot of wandering around and closely following. I decided to show this event by photographing a whole bison in two parts. Thinking about it now, the first bison may not have fully appreciated the effect.
Suddenly one of the matriarchs stopped in mid performance. She turned around with a glare that had even the normally unflappable Canadian judge scrambling to raise her score.
I took my cue and decided it was time to leave. Apparently these Bison Games are a bit more serious than I first imagined.
Krahnpix 
Mr Krahn – the one thing about your posts is I tend to chuckle through them and then wander back through the images – image 4 where the Bison fill the screen offers real scale – all we need is smelli-vision
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I like the idea of smelli-vision though it some cases it might be more than you wished for! Happy to hear about the chuckles – they are worth a lot to me.
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Some excellent photos here, much better than mine. Really enjoyed them.
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Glad you enjoyed them. It’s so nice to have the opportunity to see bison in a wild setting. Like you, I’ll be back.
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I am always amazed by the majestic sense I feel when seeing the bison. To see them up close must be a unique and unforgettable experience. Wonderful photos as always. 🙂
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Thanks. They do have presence – a lot of that has to do with their size! It was fun to capture them again if only for the few opportunities I got.
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Loved these shots and, of course, your humor (or humour, if you insist) as well. It’s a definite understatement to say that these beasts have personality, and attitude in abundance and you captured them marvelously. Was this the two-hundredth anniversary of the Games? It sure looks to me to be the bison-tennial edition.
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Definitely the bison-tennial edition! Nice. It’s a lot of fun catching personality of wildlife and these big animals seem to show a lot. Glad you enjoyed the post and the humour – I don’t insist on the spelling, just trying to be consistent with Canadian spelling.
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Too funny, Lyle! I don’t know how you think these posts up. I love them!
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Happy to hear! I need an outlet for my imagination – the blog helps me out.
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Cute story and your photos are wonderful. I don’t see these guys much, even though living near Buffalo, NY.
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That’s kind or ironic when you think of it. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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I wish the Bison Olympics were every year. No, the heck with that, I would tune in every weekend to watch this event!
That steam locomotive in the second photo looks ready to really blast off!
And pic 4 is the best butt shot I have ever seen!
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Glad you like these guys. I was duly impressed with those butts. It’s not hard to imagine them all with a little attitude.
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An excellent story for your excellent pictures!
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Glad you think they’re a good match. I had to have a little fun with them.
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Hard to imagine anyone not connecting with your humor. Then again I could be a bit dense. 😉
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Our humour definitely seems to connect which makes it fun. It turns out humour has different flavours and sometimes people prefer a different kind. Ours is not to question why …
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That was definitely a glare, or a dare, thrown down but the matriarch. What a look!
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Yes she certainly got my attention! I think I got the message.
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Lyle you’l have to go when the Bison have their calves as they remarkable little creatures and will put on a tremendous show for you. They bounce in joy and put on quite a show. As usual great pictures and wonderful story.
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Thanks. We caught the first week of newborn bison at Yellowstone last year and certainly enjoyed watching them They are a treat.
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Fantastic photos of such a majestic animal.
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I appreciate that. They are quite a unique creature.
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Humour, it seems, is best shared. The final image reminds me that this is not always possible. Some are simply unable to enter into the joy of the lightest moment. The message translates best as the Victorian “We are NOT amused!” She appears to be serving up a main dish of judgement with a side order of disgust. It’s probably best to not invite her to your next party.
Thanks!
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After discovering many times when humour doesn’t connect, I began to realize it’s extra special when it’s possible to share humour that others enjoy. She’s definitely not coming to the next party!
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