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Handie โ€” A Mother's Love

Published: 2011-06-24 13:39:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 473; Favourites: 19; Downloads: 0
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Description I took this shot a few days ago. These Bison are in an enclosure at a lake we visit. Due to the high water levels, they are all very close to the gate so it gave us an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with them!

When I walked down the fence line this mother got very agitated with me. I put my self right up close to the wire fencing and placed the end of my lens right up through the gridding and started to focus.

Well, holy crap - she sure didn't like that!! She charged me at the fence right where I stood, and of course, I had my camera in front of my eye so I never saw her coming! Instead I heard her heavy footfalls and felt the ground shaking. I jumped back just when she rammed into the fence and stood there snorting at me for a while. Scared the beejeebers out of me I tell ya! But, after she backed off I came back and did it again - because you know - I just HAD to get a shot of her and her baby.

After all of that, this incredibly tender moment occured when the baby came up and touched their noses together and they just rubbed faces for a while. (hence the big wet mark on the baby's head)

It was very sweet, as a moment ago the mom was in a rage and so ferocious and scary - but she was protecting her greatest treasure, which then showed me a moment of tenderness that I was not expecting.

This photo is dedicated to my very good friend I've been waiting and waiting to get the perfect shot for you Jon - but I still haven't found the right one - so this one will have to do in the mean time!

Hey - you see what I mean?? notice the horns?
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Comments: 17

AnnaKirsten [2011-11-26 11:28:21 +0000 UTC]

!!! You could have lost your gear and thank goodness you kept your cool despite the fright!!!!

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Handie In reply to AnnaKirsten [2011-12-05 02:49:05 +0000 UTC]

no kidding! scared the crap out of me!!

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Lupsiberg [2011-09-20 23:52:28 +0000 UTC]

Hi, you have been featured here [link] I hope that you like it!

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Corvidae65 [2011-07-05 02:44:36 +0000 UTC]

Awwwww!

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Handie In reply to Corvidae65 [2011-07-05 02:50:46 +0000 UTC]

Aren't they sweet???

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Lerocque [2011-06-27 03:30:53 +0000 UTC]

This is such an awesome capture! Love the way the light makes her coat look.
I spent a lot of time observing them growing up in Montana and the Bison was our high school mascot/team name so they have a special place in my heart They are such magnificent creatures and yes, they can be just as tender as they are intimidating!

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Handie In reply to Lerocque [2011-06-29 02:37:06 +0000 UTC]

Hey Le! thank you! Their coats are so thick and heavy - I can see why people used to want to wear them for warmth

They sure are beautiful - so powerful - and yet tender too. Glad to have brought back happy memories for you!

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Lerocque In reply to Handie [2011-06-29 14:29:06 +0000 UTC]

There's a pishkun (buffalo jump) very close to where I grew up - the indians chased herds off a cliff so they didn't have to "hunt" them. It's the largest in the world. It always made me sad to go there, but we did find some cool arrowheads.

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Handie In reply to Lerocque [2011-07-01 03:57:23 +0000 UTC]

It would be very neat to go and walk there - sad and sort of "haunting" I would suppose. It never ceases to amaze me how "inhumane" humans can be

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MamaLucia [2011-06-26 03:31:09 +0000 UTC]

Bison are really, really cool critters!

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Handie In reply to MamaLucia [2011-06-27 03:21:36 +0000 UTC]

THey sure are! I wish I'd had more time to watch them!

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NunoCanha [2011-06-25 23:12:24 +0000 UTC]

Touching! And at the same time very powerful.
Iยดm with Jonny: never come between a mom and her baby!
And great, sharp, fur!

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Handie In reply to NunoCanha [2011-06-25 23:27:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you Nuno - yeah, I wouldn't have been so brave had they not been in a very strong enclosure! It was great to see this tender moment though.

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Moodlight14 [2011-06-25 14:18:17 +0000 UTC]

Great shot my friend, superb detail!

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Handie In reply to Moodlight14 [2011-06-27 03:21:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you Anthony!!!

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JonnyGoodboy [2011-06-24 15:42:38 +0000 UTC]

Never come between a Mother`s love for her wee baby,especially one with a kick ass powerliftingpowerpacked physique like this mommy
Thank you my HandieSandie,that`s very sweet of you and a very tender after moment you captured too

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Handie In reply to JonnyGoodboy [2011-06-24 19:27:24 +0000 UTC]

Yes, that is good advice indeed! You are welcome Jon! And I do feel very fortunate to have been there to witness it!

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