Bison Repose

There are some places you travel to not knowing exactly what you’ll find… only that the journey itself will be worth it.

One autumn, we made the long drive north into Wood Buffalo National Park in search of the mighty wood bison. Mile after mile, the landscape stretched out before us—vast, quiet, and seemingly empty. For long stretches, there was no sign of wildlife at all… just the feeling of being small within such an immense and untouched place.

And then, the first sign.

Bison tracks… and yes, even bison droppings on the road.

It may sound funny, but in that moment, it felt like a promise that we were getting close.

As we continued along the long, isolated roads, we found ourselves scanning the horizon. Every dark shape in the distance sparked a little excitement. And then finally… there they were. Massive, powerful silhouettes grazing along the roadside, visible from what felt like miles away.

Standing in their presence, it’s hard not to feel a deep respect for these incredible animals.

Wood bison have roamed this land for thousands of years, yet their story hasn’t always been certain. Overhunting, habitat loss, and disease once brought them close to disappearing entirely. The creation of this park helped protect what remained, allowing these herds to continue living freely in one of the largest undisturbed grass and sedge meadow ecosystems left in North America.

We had arrived just before the fall colors would paint the landscape, but somehow, that didn’t matter.

Because in that quiet, open wilderness… watching these ancient giants in the place they’ve always called home… it was an experience that felt both humbling and unforgettable.

- Stan Masters

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