There, but by the Grace of God
In the process of editing my first book, Finding Joy, I re-read this story about a memorable bike ride at Teddy Roosevelt National Park in South Dakota. I thought I’d share it with you. Before you read my story, here are four random facts you may or may not know: 1. Bison are generally docile, until they are not. 2. The males weigh 2000 pounds. 3. They can run over 30 mph if they get inspired. 4. Bison do not like to be challenged.
Twelve miles into my ride, an older couple in a white GMC Denali passed me going up a hill and then grinned and waved as I passed them on the way down. I descended at an exhilarating 30-plus-mph pace in the 25-mph zone. But as I neared the bottom of the hill, I noticed three bison on my left. Cars stopped. People were taking pictures from their windows. I squeezed the brakes hard. Ahead of me stood a lone bull, eating on the side of the road. He was facing me.
He was closer than 50 yards and several members of his family ambled close behind. I stopped, pulled out my phone, took a picture, and then started a video. Two seconds into the video, the bull looked up and started walking toward me. I didn’t figure he was approaching because he wanted to lick my face, have me pet him, or join me for a selfie. My phone made its way back into my jersey pocket in a flash, and I whispered a sincere apology for having taken a photograph without his consent.
Now, I know there is a fine line between brave and stupid. A has-been amateur cyclist standing at the bottom of a hill in the wrong gear, facing a bison, seemed much closer to stupid than brave. The bull told me I had crossed the line when I pulled out my phone. Please don’t ask me what I was thinking. I obviously wasn’t.
Monitoring his movements, but not making direct eye contact, I did a 180 with my bike. No longer interested in grazing on the lush grass, the bull lumbered in my direction. After awkwardly shifting gears, I climbed the hill I had raced down at 30 mph seconds earlier. I glanced back. Now on the pavement, the bull walked directly behind me and commenced to close the gap. Forty yards. Thirty yards. Twenty. I kept climbing at a slow, labored pace, looking back every few pedal strokes to watch him still lumbering toward me.
He wasn’t charging, but was he walking faster? I couldn’t tell, but he was tracking me. Of that, I was certain. As I continued, I inched past the three bison, now on my right. They heard my heart beating, for sure. It not only beat in my chest; it thumped in my ears faster and faster as a timpani crescendo in the last few measures of a symphony.
After two minutes, and what seemed like ten, the gap was too close for comfort. I picked up my pace—as much as a retired girl with bad knees and aching feet can pick up the pace on a 10% grade without bison assuming she wanted to play tag. The bull continued at his same labored pace. My wobbly legs somehow gained a few yards on him, and then a few more. And then . . . a few more. It was not until I crested the climb and began a lightning-fast descent that I felt safe.
That was way too close for comfort. I thanked God that the bull didn’t pick up speed and come after me.
It killed me to not get more pictures and videos. However, if I had stayed for more photos, perhaps the bison would have killed me. My heart continued to race long after I topped that hill, but I was alive. I have seen many stories involving bison and stupid people on national news feeds and YouTube videos of bison goring and stampeding spectators. As the saying goes, “there but by the grace of God, go I.”
Have you had any close encounters with bison or any other animals? Please share below.
December 11, 2023 @ 1:04 pm
What a fantastic story!
December 11, 2023 @ 2:10 pm
Thanks, Amy.
December 11, 2023 @ 4:51 pm
Very thankful your Bison Story has a happy ending!!
January 17, 2024 @ 12:18 am
Thank you, Mary Anne. Me too!
December 13, 2023 @ 12:33 am
Yikes! Joy, my heart was nearly racing picturing the bison and his buddies being that close to you! Too close for comfort, most definitely!!! As I pictured you snapping a photo AND then a video of the bison as he munched the grasss, I wanted to scream, “Joy, get out of there!!! This is not the time for a Kodak moment! He could kill you in an instant!!!” Phew! What a relief you gathered your wits about you and managed to do 180 degree turn and neither he nor his buddies decided to charge you!!! What a huge blessing that you lived to tell about your hair raising story! Well done!
December 16, 2023 @ 12:55 am
Thanks, Cathy. Yes, my heart was racing as I wrote the story. Reliving it was almost as scary as the day it happened.
December 15, 2023 @ 7:28 pm
I had an experience with a bison in an electric fence. It was at a state park in Virginia at the tri-state area of TN,KY.VA. The male bison was guarding 3 female bison. For some reason, he did not like me. He had a negative reaction to my presence. Enough so that I walked away. I’ve never had anything like that happen in any other animal related experiences before.
December 20, 2023 @ 1:56 am
Wow! They certainly are protective of their women and babies.
December 17, 2023 @ 11:44 am
Oh Joy! That’s scary and funny at the same time. Glad you ok. No I didn’t have encounter with bison but here in FL I had couple close calls with shark, snap turtle, snakes. Our 10 ft gator was captured recently so hopefully I m safe for a while I guess.
Love and Blessings
Z
December 20, 2023 @ 1:53 am
Yikes! Sharks, snapping turtles, snakes and alligators? And I thought bison were unpredictable! You can’t be too careful.
Stay safe!
January 16, 2024 @ 12:54 pm
Love your stories, Joy!! ❤️ So glad you got away safely!! Sounds like your angels were busy!! I’m wondering what the other travelers thought?? You must’ve given them racing hearts too! Would you have even noticed if someone had offered you shelter??
January 16, 2024 @ 4:46 pm
Thank you, Julia. You know, I never even looked at the cars as I passed them. I was so focused on keeping my pedals turning. They would have had to yell and wave to get me to pull over. I’m sure they were watching and I hope cheering for me. Thanks for making me think about that. How often do we have cheerleaders rooting for us, praying for us, thinking about us, yet we don’t even notice them.
January 18, 2024 @ 10:24 pm
Very cool story Joy, you live an exciting life! As the old saying goes “ Never trust a wild animal”! I’ve been reading your blogs, nice to have a fun bucket list! God surely created a magnificent world to explore! Great to have you as a neighbor! I’m sure everyone will find some joy in these readings!
January 19, 2024 @ 1:35 pm
Thanks, Hubie. You are right about God creating a magnificent world to explore. Since he went to all the trouble, I believe the least I can do is go out there and see it!
February 27, 2024 @ 12:40 pm
We used to swim in the canal by my grandmothers property in Ocala, FL. One night, my grandfather shined a flashlight across the top of the water. I saw little yellow glowing eyes, and asked him what it was. He told me it was alligators in the canal. I gasped at the thought of maybe I had been swimming with them! Next day, I was hesitant to swim, but waded in about knee deep, then I was good! I chose to spend more time on a dock, fishing. No more alligators!
February 27, 2024 @ 9:56 pm
Yikes, Sherry! Glowing eyes? I bet that was creepy. I walked out onto a peninsula the other day at my friend’s cottage and when I came back he asked me if I saw the alligator. I didn’t even think to look for one. He said he’s been seeing a momma with her babies sunning themselves where I walked. I’ve gotta be more careful down here in Florida now.