Science in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota

Bison Research at Ordway Prairie
Close of rut
August 28, 2008 Update

The Rise and Fall of Bauer

The rut has now come to a close at Ordway Prairie. In the last week, the bulls were slowly filtering out and there was a creeping calm blanketing the herd. 

In the tranquility, there was a sudden disturbance. Hotstuff bellowed as he swaggered over to D8R, who was tending a female. The bulls surged at each other, quickly escalating the contest into a violent fight. 

As the mature bulls were locked into combat, an upstart named Bauer snuck over. Seeing his chance to enter the ranks, he charged Hotstuff and struck him in the left flank. Hotstuff was sent reeling into the barbed wire fence, snapping the steel t-post under the weight of his nearly one ton body. 

Hotstuff frantically tore himself out of his entanglement, suffering many cuts, including a deep gash on his hind leg. Bauer once again lowered his head and made another opportunistic attack..

Though larger and more experienced, Hotstuff was too mangled to hold off the young bull. Bauer mercilessly continued to follow and displace Hotstuff from any hope of rest. In order to get a vacation from the newly awakened fury of Bauer, Hotstuff shortly left the herd. 

Though the injuries seemed severe, Hotstuff was back in the herd the next day, restored to his former position above Bauer. 

Contests between bison often involve some bellowing and sizing up between the bulls in order to avoid either party getting severely injured. But, fights occur fairly often, especially during the height of the rut. Most fights do not result in serious injuries; one bull will put his head down in submission before this occurs. 

Fortunately, bison are very strong and have an amazing ability to heal. Last year, a bull named Hipspot was gored in the left eye, severely affecting his vision. But, he still managed to be somewhat dominant late in the season this year.

That concludes the research for 2008. Next year the research team will once again observe the buffaloing of the bison at the Samuel H. Ordway Jr. Memorial Prairie.

Hotstuff’s injuries following the fight. Photo courtesy of
Gustavus Adolphus College research team

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