Blue Twistbranch Crop

American Bison (Buffalo) The American Bison was named our national mammal on May 9th, 2016. This majestic animal joins the ranks of the Bald Eagle as the official symbol of our country. Much like the Eagle, it is one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time. Once hunted to almost extinction. The department of the interior, along with private individuals, states, and native American tribes effectively put an end to the needless slaughter of these mighty creatures. Bison population in the USA is once again on the rise. Bison are the largest mammal in North America. Male Bison (called bulls) weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall. Females (cows) weigh up to 1,000 pounds and stand around 4 to 5 feet at the withers. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth. Historians believe the term "Buffalo" grew from the French word "boeuf" and was then changed later on to "buffalo". This photo was taken just outside of Longmont Colorado on a privately owned Bison sanctuary. This youngster is approximately 5-6 weeks old, and enjoying the life God has given him fully. Each year this sanctuary re-introduces most of the young back into the possession of Native American tribes across the plains to repopulate the species.
 
Camera settings: Nikon D500 Lens: Nikkor 18-300 Exposure time: 1/4000 sec. Aperture: f/6.3 Focal Length: 240mm ISO: 1250