Baby buffalo arrives unexpectedly

The crews in Hot Springs State Park were a bit surprised to find a new baby buffalo calf in the T-Hill pasture on Thanksgiving.

Normally, buffalo calves and other young critters are born in the spring, some as late as June, but this little fellow was way behind the others.

According to Park Superintendent Kevin Skates, this particular buffalo typically has a late cycle and has given birth later than the others, one on 9-11 and even one in October, but never this late.

Skates says mama and baby are both doing well, after all, he has a coat made for this weather, so there is no plan to bring them down into the main pasture or into the barns in the park.

Four or five buffalo calves were recently brought here from Bear River State Park in preparation for the anual calf sale.

Skates said those calves, along with five from our herd, will be up for sale this year.

Bid packets for the animals should be available sometime in mid-December and will need to be returned the first part of January.