visiting a North Dakota bison ranch

A few months ago while being interviewed for a local magazine, the editor mentioned her aunt and uncle have a working bison ranch within 30 minutes of my home/studio. I was intrigued. I've seen bison many times at the local zoo and nation parks – but a herd of bison so close to the Bison Booties studio?! Wow!

The editor invited me out for a visit sometime, and yesterday we coordinated our schedules and made it happen. We visited Buffalo Coulee Ranch in Washburn, ND.


Driving into the bison herd.

These ranch bison have hundreds of acres to graze and explore. They dine on natural grasses and are never given antibiotics, steroids, or growth hormones.


Bison are quite social and really enjoy the rancher visits. We drove right into the middle of the herd!


Three mama bison – all with different hair styles. Bison have a very strong herd instinct and are difficult to separate.


A very pretty mama bison came over to say hello.
Male bison weigh 1800-2000 pounds, female bison weigh 1000-1200 pounds, and baby bison are born weighing 40-50 pounds.


According to wholefoods.com, bison meat generally has fewer calories and a lower fat content than beef, yet more protein than beef, making it a good choice for the health conscious meat eater. Extremely nutrient dense, a single serving provides good amounts of iron, zinc and the antioxidant selenium.


Me and my new bison mama friend.


So sweet - a nursing baby bison.


The wildflowers were plentiful and the smell of wild sage was wonderful.


These bison are very loved by their ranchers!


We got to meet Coco, a baby bison twin that was rejected by her mama bison. I learned that bison mamas can only nurse one baby bison. Thankfully, Coco has very nice ranchers to lover her and bottle-feed her. She lives in a barn close to the house and comes out when they call her.



Thank you Tom and Coleen at Bison Coulee Ranch for the amazing visit!

. . .

The other appeal of our visit was driving on bumpy prairie (with the hopes it would put me into labor). Needless to say the baby stayed put. Due date Aug 16 ...