Back With the Bison

Two weeks after photographing the bison roundup at Antelope Island State Park, I went back to the island to photograph the biologists as they took DNA samples from some of the bulls for genetic testing. I'll post more images soon, but I want to post this favorite photo today. Enjoy.

Wildlife biologist Steve Bates, left, checks for an ear tag on a bull bison while Bob Middlemas, right, tries to detract the animal and control its head at Antelope Island State Park on Monday, November 10, 2014. Most years, the large bulls are not rounded up with the rest of the herds due to their aggressive nature. This year, all of the animals were brought in so that genetic testing could be down in order to see if there are cattle genes mixed in with the herd.
©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Bison Roundup on Antelope Island

I had the opportunity to go photograph the bison roundup at Antelope Island State Park last week. Each year, hundreds of volunteers on horseback come from around the west to help roundup the roughly 700 bison that live on the island. Biologists will spend the next couple weeks vaccinating the animals and doing some testing. They will also auction off some of the bison in order to keep the herd at a healthy size for the island. There is a large slideshow of photos on the Standard-Examiner, but some of my favorite images are below.

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison up the east side of Antelope Island during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Around three hundred riders came out to move the 700 bison currently on the island. 

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison around the east slope of Frary Peak during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Once a year, the bison are gather on the north end of the island to be vaccinated and studied. Around 200 bison will be sold off in order to maintain a healthy population on the island.

Riders from the Utah County Mounted Search and Rescue eat breakfast around the campfire before the Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Mounted posse members from around Northern Utah helped lead the roundup with assistance from hundreds of visiting riders.

Neal Christensen, left, and Jeremy Shaw talk to the roughly 300 riders taking part in the Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Before the ride, officials laid out a plan for how to reaches many bison as possible and went over the safety concerns.

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison up the east side of Antelope Island during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Around three hundred riders came out to move the 700 bison currently on the island. 

Neal Christensen saddles horses before the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Richard Webb and Kendalyn Hill prepare their horses for the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Antelope Island State Park on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Riders move a herd of several hundred bison up the east side of Antelope Island during the 28th annual Bison Roundup on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Around three hundred riders came out to move the 700 bison currently on the island.