In Yellowstone National Park, bison are the most commonly seen form of wildlife. They are well suited for the harsh winter conditions in the park, which can reach extremely cold temperatures over long periods of time. The bison often will congregate near the rivers and geothermal features, which can provide some warming relief from the cold. On very cold mornings, this provides opportunities to capture what I have always believed was one of THE iconic images of Yellowstone, bison covered in frozen steam. Similarly, deep snow pack conditions provide opportunities for another iconic Yellowstone image, snow covered faces of bison searching for vegetation. To me, these images capture the essence of their struggle to survive in this wild and challenging landscape.
Early morning silhouettes of two bison preparing to spar with one another.
Warm morning light on bison grazing along a river bank.
A black and white image of the snowy face of a bison, as it forages for vegetation on the ground covered in deep snow.
Bison and coyotes cautiously watch one another.
Bison congregate near the river where the warm waters quickly turn steam into ice crystals on their winter coats.
The warm mist of the river quickly turns to ice in the sub zero temperatures of early morning.
Waiting out the cold. The air temperature was minus -17,
Bison and steam in early morning light.
A lone bison searches for food in a tall stand of river willows.
The warmly lit coat of a bison against a shadowy backdrop.
Frosty bison forage along the river.