Last week-end was the bison round-up on Antelope Island (I was tempted to go but went elsewhere). This is where staff/DNR/State Wildlife folks and normal horse-owning folks can spend the day herding the bison on the island into corrals. They let them settle for a week and then the next week they do their yearly physicals (weight, shots, pregnancy tests (for females of course), etc). To manage the herd at about 700 bison, they select ~200 bison (young and old) for auction.
Today is Day 1 of Bison physical day (next week is the auction). So heading there to it check out. The day is beautiful; going to be 70 today -- before crashing Sunday morning (maybe snow).
The corrals are setup behind the Park Office. (I've always wondered what was behind the office -- there are supposed to be hiking trails but I've been afraid to go behind the building because it just looks like a dead-end.)
Once crossing the causeway, I head directly to the corrals. I notice a few bison along the road and I'm curious to know why/how these guys escaped the corralling process.
Its still early and although there are people here - I think I'm beating the crowds. :)
There is fencing and small groups of bison everywhere. I go to the main "building" where the physicals are being performed. There is a small viewing deck from which I can see (head on) the vets and other staff taking care of the front end of each bison. The bison definitely does NOT care to be in the confined chute. There's a lot of snorting, kicking the metal chute and heavy breathing. But the process looks efficient and quick.
The bison goes into the "physical" chute w/ the metal "football" helmet down. I guess this protects the bison and the humans both. Two other plates squeeze the head in place -- the helmet comes up at this point.
One guy puts a metal ring in the bison's nose and pulls its head to the side.
Then the front end of the physical begins -- if the bison has never been tagged/chipped, this happens here. In the back of the chute, there are trap doors for the bison to receive its shots, etc. When the physical is complete, the nose ring is removed, the humans leave and then the head lock on the bison lifts and the bison shoots out like a bullet to freedom. :)
From the deck, there are smaller corrals holding only a bison or two. These are the holding areas for the bison selected for auction next week.
I asked one of the volunteers why there are bison outside of the corrals and she said that they are old bulls that just don't hang out with the herd anymore so they just don't bother them (lucky them!).
I walk to the other end before the chutes which holds the next the set of "patients". And there are several more holding pens (the bison move from pen to pen until they complete their physicals). Before I get to the holding pen before the physical chutes, they are driving the next set of bison into the "physical chutes" which holds 6 bison. The first bison gets checked out and released, and then the remaining move up. Lots of banging inside. And I learn that bison can actually jump pretty high as the walls are a good 7-8 feet and I can still see the head of a jumping bison.
I hook up with one of the volunteers for the tour and we head immediately for the holding pens (these are the bison next up for the physical chutes). There is a viewing platform over the pen. These bison are driven down from the holding pen a bit up the hill -- humans just scare them down. They are pretty freaked out when they get in here and the guide says not to lean over the pen -- jumping bison (and I've already seen it so I'm not taking any chances). They stay tight in their little group of six. It is a mixture of young and old, bulls and females. There are some feisty ones. In one case, this one bison was a kicker and just kicked one of the other bison in the head -- that was a big thump and everyone from the viewing platform gave a big "ooooo". (That had to hurt.) When its time to move these bison into the "physical" chutes, they open the gate to the "physical" chutes and then drive the bison in with a backhoe retrofitted with a big metal fence (and 2 people yelling) and the backhoe honking its horn and pushing toward the chutes. Some go willing and others try to stand their ground but ultimately the backhoe wins.
The volunteer was ready to move on but I told him to leave me on the platform as I wanted to watch a few more herds come through.
One of the "herds" I watched was just a mom and her little calf (they don't separate the Mom's and calves). She was not happy -- her eyes were red, she was drooling a ton and she looked like she would kill anyone/thing that got near her calf.
The little guy was a cutey. Little button horns, still a little brown.
The next set of bison had one with a crocked horn. At that point I left (w/ the new guide). We visited the area that took care of the physicals from the back/side end -- shots etc. Then we went back to the platform where I started -- looking at the head of the bison. And guess what, it was crooked horn turn!
Once they let him free, I left and headed off to Bison Point Overlook. (And the crowds are definitely growing now.)
I tried climbing up to Bison Point once -- in Feb in 3 feet of snow and didn't get too far. But today, I climb the 300ft (0.4 miles) to the top. Its beautiful on top. Full 360 of the island and great views of the south end. The causeway, west/north/east coast of the Salt Lake. Unbelievable!
Time to head out -- what a great day!!
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