Round 'em up — Bison can give herders a run for their money

The island bison are prized among buyers because they are genetically unique in that they have a ninth allele that is not found in other American buffalo. A geneticist from the University of Utah is conducting a study this year on exactly what this means in the overall health of the buffalo.

It's a fact, too, that as with most buffalo in the United States, the island animals have traces of cattle in their genetic makeup. There are currently only three herds in the U.S. that are of a pure strain. One of those is the herd on the Henry Mountains.

As for the ride, it was the largest collection of riders out for the roundup since the island was overrun with buffalo-punchers back in the early roundups. For several years, numbers had to be limited. Last year, about 100 riders got involved.

By 2 p.m. on opening day, the three big herds had been rounded up and corralled in pens near the northern tip of the island. The second day was spent rounding up small groups of stragglers.

Bates warned riders if they came across lone bulls, some weighing upward of 1,800 pounds, "to just leave them on the range. All they do is tear things up when they're in the facility. If they don't want to move, we don't want them."

The island buffalo have become the main attraction on the island. Ron Brown, who runs the riding concession, R&G Horse and Wagon, on the island, said those taking the island ride, "are fascinated by the buffalo. It's all part of the wild West they envision ... the buffalo, the prairies, the open spaces."

Which is why Massie Tellman, a retired federal judge from Fort Worth, Texas, returned to the island, "just for the roundup. I've ridden horses all my life, and this is the most exciting thing I've ever done. It's much more than I ever imagined."

Riders actually pushed the buffalo north, sometimes coming within 20 to 30 yards of the moving herd. It wasn't always this way. Four years ago, and years before that, helicopters were used. Riders simply rode parts of the island closed to the public at other times of the year and watched as the buffalo were herded by the copter.

Once corralled, the buffalo are left to adjust to captivity for a week. They rest, are fed on fresh-cut hay and then patiently wait for the doctors to make their island call.

During the physical, the buffalo are cut into small groups and pushed into a long chute, which eventually leads to the ultimate "hugging" machine — mechanical arms that close in around the animals and hold them firm while veterinarians, where called for, draw blood, give vaccinations and check for pregnancy in cows.

The island buffalo are not all descendents of the original herd planted on the island.

When the DPR took over ownership of the island in 1981, the buffalo were stunted because of the lack of a new genetic pool. To help the herd, larger bulls were brought in and introduced into the herd.

In 1990, for example, five buffalo from Nebraska and four from Montana were released into the herd. Over the following years, the average size of the animals increased.

Even now, there are plans to introduce bulls from the Henry Mountain herd onto the island.

Once the checkups are completed, the 500 or so buffalo chosen to stay in the island are released. They remain the main attraction on the island until next year, when wranglers will once again gather and be told to watch the tail, avoid the big bulls and follow, as best they can, where it is the buffalo choose to go.