It’s been a busy week, capped off by two days helping staff and volunteers with a bison roundup at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve.  The bison in the Preserve’s two herds are pretty much left alone all year except for one annual roundup.  Those roundups allow staff to sort off animals to be sold, innoculate calves that will be kept, and get a (fairly) accurate count of the herd.  Yesterday was the main event, during which animals were herded into the corrals and run through a series of gates, alleys, and pens.  Most of the animals were in and out of the corral within about 5 hours.  The veterinarian will be here today to help process the rest.

Despite best efforts, the roundup – while important – is a little stressful for both bison and staff, so both parties are glad to see it end.  As groups of animals are released to join their peers back in the hills, their excitement is palpable.  The photo below captures one of those moments.

Heading home…

Within a few minutes of their release, the bison were back to grazing – apparently peacefully – out in the hills.  Life goes on…