Baby bison in Elk Island National Park

Elk Island National Park

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Baby bison in Elk Island National Park

You know it's spring at Elk Island National Park when the meadows green up and little red bison calves start appearing.

Since 1907 when plains bison were brought to Elk Island from Montana, over 100 generations of bison have flourished in the park. Their descendants and relatives have been the source for bison conservation projects across the country and the continent. The next generation of bison is showing up now in Elk Island's meadows! It's a great time to visit the park for a glimpse at the next generation of plains bison at Elk Island National Park.

 

A bison calf nudges its mother’s leg while she and other bison graze in a grassy meadow.

Female bison will gestate for approximately 9 months after conception during the summer rut (mating season).
© Parks Canada

 

A baby calf lays down in the grass.

Baby bison are typically born in May and June but calving can start as early as April and might extend into October depending on seasonal conditions.
© Parks Canada

 

A mother bison licks her baby to clean it.

When Ready to give birth a female bison will leave the herd for a short period. She will return when the new born bison is ready to walk and run.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf runs through the grass. Its fur is pressed back from the wind.

A baby bison can stand on its own 30 minutes after being born and will begin to walk and run after only 2 – 3 hours.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf walks though some low shrubs.

At only 4 – 6 hours old bison calves will begin to taste their first samples of grass. However they will receive most of their nutrients from their mother’s milk.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf nurses while its mother grazes.

Bison Calves rely on their mother’s milk for nutrition until they are weaned at 4 to 6 months of age.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf walks up a small hill into a grassy meadow.

At birth a baby bison will weigh 14 to 23 kilograms (40 to 50 pounds). After they are weaned they will weigh almost 10 times that amount.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf nudges its mother’s leg while she grazes.

New born bison calves will remain very close to their mothers for protection. However, after 3 to 4 weeks they may begin to wonder amongst the herd.
© Parks Canada

 

A small herd of bison lays down on a grassy knoll.

Within the greater bison herd, smaller groups of calves form nursery groups of 3 or more babies. These groups are looked after by a small number of attending cows.
© Parks Canada

 

Two bison calves walk through a grassy meadow.

It is common to see bison calves playing and frolicking together.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf leaps into the air while a bison cow watches from the background.

At Elk Island bison calves are lovingly referred to as “Little Reds” because of their reddish-orange colour.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf lays down in the grass while a second calf walks past it.

Bison calves will remain a reddish-orange colour for approximately 10 weeks. After that time they will begin to change into the same chocolate brown colour of an adult bison.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf stands next to its mother while she grazes.

Although very small and hard to see, bison calves are born with horns. After 2 to 3 weeks these horns are clearly visible from a distance.
© Parks Canada

 

A car waits on a gravel road as a bison calf crosses the road.

The birth ratio of males and females is very nearly 50:50. However as they grow, males tend to engage in riskier activities like fighting and exploring unknown territory. This leads to a higher mortality rate among male bison.
© Parks Canada

 

A small herd of bison walk through a grassy meadow.

Although most of the bison calves born in Elk Island will remain here for their entire lives some of these babies will find new homes in conservation herds across North America.
© Parks Canada

 

A bison calf runs fast through grass and shrub. The wind presses its fur against its body.

These baby bison are the next generation of Canada’s bison conservation source herd and will help ensure that bison remain a part of Canada’s Natural heritage.
© Parks Canada
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