Tatanka

©2010 Bill Werle
Acrylic 24 x 30

Despite it's beauty and majesty the American Bison almost didn't last through the upheaval of the late 1800's.

We did our best to kill them off, yet with help here they are thriving again 100 years later. I can only imagine miles of bison streaming by as reported by settlers from that time.  It's also a symbol to me and many others of the destructive nature of humans. To ruthlessly slaughter millions of animals in such a short amount of time is so mind bogglingly incomprehensible to me. All in the name of progress?

A lot of people think they are like cattle. Au Contraire! They can run almost as fast as a race horse and they have killed people who have gotten to close. A truly impressive creature with speed and power that is deceptive. They are a big wild animal that epitomizes the plains regions of the western United States.

There is a Bison range northeast of Missoula, MT that is amazing. Plan on a day to drive through it. One year we sat through a stampede! The view of the Flathead Valley and the Mission Mountains is worth it alone.

http://www.fws.gov/bisonrange/nbr/

Add Yellowstone to your bucket list if you already haven't. For Bison and wildlife viewing (among all the other reasons to go ) Yellowstone is one of the premier locations.