Vintage

The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge announces the birth of its first bison calf of 2008. The calf was born just in time for the Nature Center’s annual Buffalo Boogie Fun Run, which will be held on May 10, 2008.

The newest member arrived at 10:15AM on April 30^th. The Nature Center has two herds flanking Buffalo Road, an east herd and a west herd totaling 25 bison. It was the west herd that had the first calf born. Not to be out done the east herd is also expecting several new arrivals this spring.

Within a very short amount of time the calf was up and walking. It must be able to follow the herd fairly quickly. Besides being very small, the calf has a reddish colored coat unlike the dark chocolate colored coats characteristic of adults.

This calf like other members of the Nature Center’s herd is very special. DNA testing has shown that the Nature Center’s bison have no detectable genes of domesticated cattle like many other North American bison but instead may be more closely related to the original animals that once roamed this continent in the millions.