Photo by Albert Mason
As Plains Buffalo make their journeys from birth to old age, each stage brings unique challenges, behaviors, and roles within the herd. As we observe and honor the life stages of Buffalo, we are able to better understand and appreciate their resilience and the complex social structures that allowed them to thrive on the plains for millennia. Read more about Buffalo history.
Buffalo’s Beginnings: Birth and the First Year
Buffalo calves generally enter the world in late spring, when prairie grasses are at their most abundant. This timing ensures mothers have access to high-quality food in order to produce milk for their newborns. A Buffalo calf weighs 30 to 70 pounds at birth, and develops quickly — within an hour of being born, most calves can stand. Within a few hours, they are walking alongside their mothers.
Newborn calves are also called “red dogs” because of their reddish-orange coats, which stand in contrast to the dark brown fur of adult Buffalo. The red dog phase lasts only for the first few months of life, and by about three months of age, their coats gradually darken and their horns begin to grow.
Photo by Albert Mason
The first year can be the most dangerous period in a Buffalo’s life. Red dogs are vulnerable to predators, and must rely on their mothers for protection and nourishment. During the first year, calves stay close to their mothers, learning essential survival skills and beginning to eat grass alongside nursing.
In some cases, a mother may have twins and be unable to care for both calves. When possible and necessary for survival, we have cared for and bottle-fed calves, and then prepared them to later rejoin their herd as wildlife.
The Adolescent Stage
As calves mature, they begin to establish their place within the herd’s social hierarchy. Young females (cows) remain close to their mothers and other female relatives, learning the social dynamics of maternal groups. These bonds between mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts create stable family units that can last for generations.
Photo by Albert Mason
Young males (bulls), meanwhile, start to venture away from their mothers, forming bachelor herds with other young bulls. This separation typically occurs around age two or three. During this period, young bulls play, fight, and spar to develop the strength and skills they’ll need as adults. These adolescent years are crucial for building muscle mass and learning behaviors that will bring them success during the mating season.
The Breeding Years
Buffalo reach sexual maturity between two and four years, though males typically don’t successfully breed until they’re larger and more dominant (usually around age six). These prime adult years represent the peak of a Buffalo’s physical capabilities.
During the summer breeding season (also known as the rut), mature bulls rejoin the female herds to compete for mating opportunities. We’ll see bulls bellow, paw the ground, wallow in dirt, and engage in head-to-head battles to establish dominance. The largest, most powerful bulls earn favor with the cows, enabling their strong genetics to pass on the next generation.
Photo by Albert Mason
Cows in their prime are the most productive members of the herd, giving birth to a single calf nearly every year. Last spring, 20 new Buffalo calves were born to our Shoshone herd, and 15 calves were born to our Arapaho herd, bringing our total number between both herds to over 220.
A Buffalo’s Golden Years
As wildlife on the Wind River Indian Reservation, a non-domesticated Buffalo will live 10-20 years on average — though reaching that age requires surviving predators, harsh winters, and competition for resources.
As Buffalo enter their senior years, their roles in the herd evolve. Older bulls will spend more time alone or in small groups. Older female Buffalo, the matriarchs, hold special importance in herds. The experienced cows hold knowledge about the landscape — such as where to find food and water, and safe routes for wandering. Younger herd members look to the matriarchs for guidance.
Photo by Rocio Lower, Bezos Earth Fund
As a Buffalo ages, their teeth begin to wear down from years of grinding tough prairie grasses, which can make feeding more difficult. As their pace slows, they may also struggle to keep up with their herd. However, the social bonds within Buffalo herds often mean that elderly animals are not abandoned. Instead, family groups will adjust their pace to accommodate aging members.
A Continuing Cycle
When a Buffalo’s life ends, their death contributes to the ecosystem they helped engineer. Their bodies provide sustenance for scavengers and predators, and their remains become nutrients for soil, helping grow the shrubs and grasses that sustained them during their lives.
We view the lifespan of Buffalo as more than just the passage of years — it’s a testament to the adaptation, resilience, and social bonds that enable them to thrive. Every member in a herd plays a vital role at every stage.
Here on the Wind River Indian Reservation, witnessing the life stages of Buffalo reminds us of our connection and their roles in our health and history. When we coexist with the Buffalo and learn more about them, we are in turn learning more about ourselves and our relationship with the land around us.