Photo by Albert Mason
When visitors to WRTBI headquarters see Buffalo for the first time, one of the most common questions they ask is: are they dangerous? The honest answer is that Buffalo are powerful, unpredictable wildlife, and they deserve to be treated as such.
Buffalo do not seek out confrontations, but they are large, fast, and attuned to their surroundings in ways that humans often underestimate. A bull can weigh over a ton and sprint at 35 miles per hour. A mother with a calf nearby is fiercely protective. They are wild animals, and they respond to the world around them as wild animals do.
Wildlife, Not Livestock
One of the most important things to understand about wild Buffalo, like those in the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho herds, is that these animals are not domesticated. They are not managed like cattle. As Jason Baldes, our executive director, puts it: “We respect them and we don’t pester them.” This philosophy of respect is central to how we care for the herds.
Buffalo herds are matriarchal, and mothers are intensely protective of their calves. Understanding this social structure matters. When approaching a herd, you are not approaching a single animal — you are entering the edge of a community with its own order, its own communication, and its own sense of safety.
Read more from ICT and AP News about the Easter Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes’ decisions to classify Buffalo as wildlife on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
What To Do If You Encounter Buffalo
If you do come across wild Buffalo, here are the most important things to keep in mind:
- Do not approach them. Even if they appear calm, approaching Buffalo causes stress. Stressed animals are unpredictable animals. Give them a wide berth and observe from a safe distance.
- Do not honk or use sirens. Buffalo are not like cows or elk. Loud noises do not move them in a predictable direction — they can cause them to startle, scatter, or charge. Honking your horn or flashing your lights is more likely to create a dangerous situation than resolve one.
- Be especially mindful during the spring calving season and summer breeding season. A mother Buffalo with a newborn calf nearby is at her most protective. A male during breeding season is restless and unpredictable. These are not the times to test boundaries.
- If professionals are called, give them space. If a situation requires staff or wildlife professionals to respond, the best thing bystanders can do is step back. Confusion and disorganization can make things worse and put both animals and people at risk. Let the professionals work, and there will be time to ask questions and talk with staff once the animals are safe.
Respect is the Foundation
Our Initiative is rooted in the relationship between people and Buffalo that stretches back through time immemorial. That relationship has always been one of deep respect — not fear or domination, but recognition that Buffalo are sovereign beings with their own lives and needs.
Are Buffalo aggressive? Not inherently. But they are wildlife, and they will act accordingly when they feel threatened, crowded, or stressed. The best way to stay safe around Buffalo is simple: give them space, stay calm, and have an exit plan.
When in doubt, watch from a safe distance, and appreciate the rare gift of seeing the largest mammal in North America roam the landscape.
Recommended Reading: Stages of the Buffalo Lifespan