Grizzly bear and buffalo well-matched. Imagining Head-Smashed-In, Jack Brink
In another unusual rescue, a Blackfoot Indian reported seeing a buffalo bull charge a grizzly bear that had attacked a heifer.
The grizzly was lying in wait, hidden by a trail near a creek when a small bunch of buffalo trailed down to drink. Led by a young buffalo heifer, they came down the bank in single file.
As the heifer passed under the clay shelf where the grizzly hid, he reached down with both paws and caught her around the neck, then leaped on her back. She struggled to escape.
Suddenly a “splendid young buffalo bull” came rushing down the trail and charged the bear, knocking him down.
They fought fiercely. The grizzly tried to grasp the bull by the head and shoulders, but could not hold him. The bull slashed furiously with his heavy horns.
Blood gushing from mortal wounds, the bear tried to escape, but the bull would not let him go. He kept up the attack until he had killed the bear.
Even then he continued to gore and toss the carcass off the ground. The bull seemed insane with rage.
The Blackfoot hunter—who was also hiding near the trail—was much afraid he’d be discovered and attacked too. Finally, much to his relief, the buffalo left the carcass and went off to join his band.
(Source: George Bird Grinnell interviewing Blackfoot hunter.)
Francie M Berg
Author of the Buffalo Tales &Trails blog
