They whole herd was out in the meadow this morning when we left to go to town. They aren’t buffalo–they’re beefalo.
And they’re not native to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Sometime in the early 1900’s two ranchers in the House Rock Valley area tried to create a hybrid herd of animals that are a cross between cows and buffalo.
They were trying for a better meat product. Their experiment failed for their purposes, but the hybrid herd has survived.
They spend the winter months down in the desert around House Rock Valley, but in the summer they migrate up the Kaibab Plateau looking for water and grasses for food.
They occasionally spend a few days in the meadows along Hwy 67 on the way into the park.They have been hanging out there all week.They are traffic stoppers for sure, because sometimes they just stand in the road.
Sam says
Interesting! I’ve never heard of beefalo before.
Joanna says
Neat! I’ve never heard of these…
Christina says
We have some of these just outside of town. The guy has about 30 of them. Love to take the grand kids out to look at them when they come to visit. They can’t get over how the momma’s have horns.
Tiff @ Babes and Kids says
Pretty cool, and you got some neat shots!
burghbaby says
Awesomeness.
Marcie W. says
These are just SO cool!! Wish I lived in an area to show my kiddos something like this!
Rhea says
That is so cool! I know right where that is, too. When we drove through there was no beefalo though and I was disappointed. Just empty meadows as far as the eye could see.
Cindy Of PEI says
These are a rather large animal to just be migrating through. We have some on the Island and we don’t have any big game so when a guest said they had seen Beefalo, I looked at her and said, “someone must be pulling your leg as we don’t have any large game on the Island.” Sure enough they had flown these big fellas in to graze and they have their own personal area, big enough for them. Nice photos
Angela FRS says
They look like bison but I am assuming they are smaller? Would love to see this.
Brandy says
I want to pet them! I know, probably can’t but can’t isn’t in my vocabulary!
Tamra Phelps says
These are pretty neat! I had no idea that beefalo existed, lol.