A Buffalo Roundup
By: Lisa Selner
Fall 2004
"I love the land and the buffalo and will not part with it..." (Satanta, Kiowa)
Having a vast fondness for the American Plains bison, more commonly
referred to as buffalo, I feel very fortunate to have been involved with
various conservation and management efforts involving these great
creatures. Aspiring to learn about buffalo both independently and
professionally through literature and research observations, and gaining
hands-on experience through several employment opportunities, has
allowed me to gain valuable knowledge through various buffalo experts
representing federal, tribal, and private entities. I have also enjoyed visits
with a Lakota Sioux spiritual advisor (holy man), who once spoke of what
the buffalo in his country (the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South
Dakota) have communicated with him, what the people watching over
them do not realize about their buffalo’s health, and what the buffalo are
doing to heal their own selves. I have come to appreciate buffalo in a
spiritual sense as well, and will be sure to incorporate them in my life for
years to come!
Some of my favorite buffalo experiences occurred while I was working for
the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota , while participating in
many of their buffalo roundups, which were always very dangerous but
exciting! I encountered up close and personal just how mighty these
creatures really are. One of my most memorable buffalo roundup
experiences occurred when we were working 500 head (the Tribe had over
3,000 buffalo at the time, being the largest tribally owned herd in the
country). There were two pickup trucks behind a group of buffalo being
moved down an alleyway to the buffalo corrals. A game warden drove a
smaller pickup on the left side, and I accompanied the herd manager at the
time in a larger pickup on the right. We noticed the buffalo had stopped
just before the entrance to the sorting pens. Someone had left the gate
closed at the other end of the alleyway. Then the buffalo turned around,
picked up their pace, and headed right towards us!
We weren’t going to be able to get out of there in time, so we watched as
the herd came crashing into us! They bounced in-between the sides of the
pickups and the fence of the alleyway. We had to lean in towards the
middle seat of our pickup so as not to be gored by the buffalo horns
coming in from the side windows. Some of the buffalo even made it over
the smaller pickup and we thought they might go through the windshield,
and even if they didn’t, we were sure there would be a big mess in the front
seat where the game warden was sitting! Thankfully nobody was injured
and the buffalo made their way out and back to the pasture. It was a sheer
adrenaline rush! I have always been in complete awe of buffalo and my
time spent in their presence continues to hasten my respect for their
astonishing strength. Bison are among the most dangerous wild mammals
in North America , and have actually caused more deaths and injury to
humans than grizzly bears!
By: Lisa Selner
Fall 2004
"I love the land and the buffalo and will not part with it..." (Satanta, Kiowa)
Having a vast fondness for the American Plains bison, more commonly
referred to as buffalo, I feel very fortunate to have been involved with
various conservation and management efforts involving these great
creatures. Aspiring to learn about buffalo both independently and
professionally through literature and research observations, and gaining
hands-on experience through several employment opportunities, has
allowed me to gain valuable knowledge through various buffalo experts
representing federal, tribal, and private entities. I have also enjoyed visits
with a Lakota Sioux spiritual advisor (holy man), who once spoke of what
the buffalo in his country (the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South
Dakota) have communicated with him, what the people watching over
them do not realize about their buffalo’s health, and what the buffalo are
doing to heal their own selves. I have come to appreciate buffalo in a
spiritual sense as well, and will be sure to incorporate them in my life for
years to come!
Some of my favorite buffalo experiences occurred while I was working for
the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota , while participating in
many of their buffalo roundups, which were always very dangerous but
exciting! I encountered up close and personal just how mighty these
creatures really are. One of my most memorable buffalo roundup
experiences occurred when we were working 500 head (the Tribe had over
3,000 buffalo at the time, being the largest tribally owned herd in the
country). There were two pickup trucks behind a group of buffalo being
moved down an alleyway to the buffalo corrals. A game warden drove a
smaller pickup on the left side, and I accompanied the herd manager at the
time in a larger pickup on the right. We noticed the buffalo had stopped
just before the entrance to the sorting pens. Someone had left the gate
closed at the other end of the alleyway. Then the buffalo turned around,
picked up their pace, and headed right towards us!
We weren’t going to be able to get out of there in time, so we watched as
the herd came crashing into us! They bounced in-between the sides of the
pickups and the fence of the alleyway. We had to lean in towards the
middle seat of our pickup so as not to be gored by the buffalo horns
coming in from the side windows. Some of the buffalo even made it over
the smaller pickup and we thought they might go through the windshield,
and even if they didn’t, we were sure there would be a big mess in the front
seat where the game warden was sitting! Thankfully nobody was injured
and the buffalo made their way out and back to the pasture. It was a sheer
adrenaline rush! I have always been in complete awe of buffalo and my
time spent in their presence continues to hasten my respect for their
astonishing strength. Bison are among the most dangerous wild mammals
in North America , and have actually caused more deaths and injury to
humans than grizzly bears!
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