"War Paint", Yellowstone Bison in Winter, 2021. 250 Limited Edition
Photographing wildlife in Yellowstone during the winter can be an incredible experience. The winters are harsh, but it presents a unique opportunity to photograph wildlife, like this frosty bison covered in snow. We caught this bison walking near Canyon Junction, and the background, coupled with the "war paint", snow covered face, made this an instant favorite of mine!
The American bison was named the national mammal of the United States on May 9, 2016. This majestic animal joins the ranks of the Bald Eagle as the official symbol of our country -- and much like the eagle, it’s one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time. In prehistoric times, millions of bison roamed North America -- from the forests of Alaska and the grasslands of Mexico to Nevada’s Great Basin and the eastern Appalachian Mountains. But by the late 1800s, there were only a few hundred bison left in the United States after European settlers pushed west, reducing the animal’s habitat and hunting the bison to near extinction. Had it not been for a few private individuals working with tribes, states and the Interior Department, the bison would be extinct today.