First Baby BUFFALO Born in Custer State Park.

A sure sign that Spring is right around the corner is the birth of the “first” baby Buffalo calf in the herd at Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Here is the new baby and it’s VERY protectant Mother. The Mother looks like she is a younger Cow and a beautiful lady. Look at what a perfect set of “hooks” she has.  I believe she has chased me at one time or another in the past.  This picture was taken by my good friend Ron Tietsort.   Ron is the head law enforcement Conservation Officer in the Park and  our x-boss. That Mama cow is saying "OK, that’s close enough!" I wouldn’t want to push her much further.  She will charge in a heartbeat!....especially when she has a young baby. When the calf gets a little older,  she will be fine and easier to deal with. We used to love to sit in and around the herd as the babies were born. They are the cutest little rascals.  This little gal is thought to have been born on April Fool’s Day. She is just 5-6 day’s old. Most of the 350+- calves are born in May but a few are born in April.  Soon she will have lots of playmates.
  
Here is the Press Release and more about this fine, large heard of Buffalo:

First BuffaloCalf of the Season Spotted at Custer State Park

CUSTER STATE PARK – The first buffalo calf of the spring, a heifer, in Custer State Park was spotted on Wednesday (April 6). Ron Tietsort, conservation officer for Custer State Park, saw the buffalo calf in the south end of the park along the Wildlife Loop Road. It is estimated that the calf is one week old.
The park has about 850 bison going into the spring, and 350 calves are expected. The herd size should be around 1,200 at the Annual Buffalo Roundup in September.
“Spring is a perfect time to view wildlife in the park and with the winter moisture, everything is greening up,” said Chad Kremer, buffalo herd manager. “Deer, antelope, turkey and buffalo can be seen throughout the park right now.”
Visitors are advised to leave buffalo calves alone. It can be dangerous to approach young animals, particularly buffalo calves. If a mother buffalo feels she or her calf is threatened, she may charge.
“Occasionally, people will think a buffalo calf has been orphaned and try to rescue it,” said Kremer. “This is rarely true. Buffalo may roam up to one mile from their calves and come back later for them.”
Most buffalo calves are born in May, but about 10 percent to 20 percent arrive in April at Custer State Park.
South Dakota State Parks invites the public to choose a name for the first buffalo calf of the spring. Visit South Dakota State Park’s Facebook page to cast your vote.
For additional information on Custer State Park, contact the park at 605-255-4515 or visit www.custerstatepark.com

I often tell Ron how lucky he is to have such a super job in such a beautiful area and he's always reminding me of how lucky I am that I can sit down here in nice, warm, cozy, sunshiny Arizona all winter.  He continues to furnish me with these beautiful pictures he takes and it sure makes me “homesick” for those Hills!  Here is another:

This Rocky Mountain Big Horn Ram is definitely knee deep in snow. He’s a beauty! Nice pictures Ron.

At the end of May, we will begin our usual northern bound journey and will arrive in those beautiful Black Hills around the first of June.  Even then, we will still probably encounter a snow or two before the 4TH of July arrives. I remember one 4TH of July morning it was 36* when we got up.  Still, it is our favorite place to be in the summer months.  I can’t wait to get up there and fire up my Harley and take a spin around those Hills.

Speaking of Motorcycles, my Son found this beauty a while back in Las Vegas:

It is a 1971 AMF Harley Davidson.  I had a better, close up picture of it but I can’t seem to find it right now.  Here it sits just outside of his office in his home. He loves Motorcycles and always has. I think right now he has about 4 of them. He enjoys rebuilding and restoring older bikes along with some of the later models. He is a few years from retirement but one day when he has more time, this will make a great project and he will restore this 40 year old bike to like new. One of his Bikes he recently restored was on display in Daytona Beach at Bike Week.

Last week's Blog I was complaining about HOT weather. Well, I should have left well enough alone.  The last couple mornings we have gotten out of bed to 34*.  Yesterday (Saturday) it only got up to a high of 48* for the day and it drizzled and sleeted off and on all day long. We did manage to get our walk in but with coats and gloves on and yep, it sleeted on us. I had to laugh at Ms. Pat while we were walking.  She said “It’s too cold to be out here!”  I laughed and said we were just practicing getting ready to go North.  Shucks a little sleet won’t hurt a guy! LOL 

I am glad to see the bright sunshine out this morning and in a day or two it will be right back up there in the 80's+.  I will be glad to see the warmer weather.   I have a few projects planned but this morning we're off to Church.
It was a GREAT WEEK!!!!

Thank you all for stopping by and hope to see you Wednesday.

Travel Safe. God Bless.

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..