North Dakota ~ "The Wild Ones"

This is the first in a series of wildlife photographs that I have taken this year. Each series will be dedicated to one specific group of wildlife that are biologically related. One of my primary goals this past trip was to photograph the "wild" horses that can be found throughout the western states. Some of these wild horse herds have been traced back to their origins of the early Spanish explorers. The "roots" of some of the other herds have not verified as to their origin and are classified as "Feral Horses". Those that are classified as "Feral Horses" are considered to be horses that have escaped or abandon by the early settlers in the west. These would include horses belonging to the American Indian, U.S. Calvary, ranchers, and from the large cattle herds that were driven into the Midwest and West in the 1800's. They have remained as "ancestors" to the country in which they roam. They live, raise their young, and die on the open range lands of the west. Today, you can see the "wild ones" in almost every western states with heavy concentrations in Nevada and Wyoming. I was fortunate to see them in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Nevada. The following photographs were taken in North Dakota, just south of the Missouri River. I felt very fortunate to be able to get into a position to await the herd to come to me in order to photograph them. The "herds" are normally small, anywhere from three to a dozen horses. The herd will always have a dominate "Mare" and the "Lead Stallion". The remaining herd will consist of young mares, colts, and young stallions. The young stallions will normally remain with the herd until they get old enough to challenge the "Lead Stallion". Lead Stallion bringing in his herd to water. This particular herd had a dozen horses, the big sorrel is the lead stallion and I am assuming the mare in front with the colt is the "Dominant Mare" When my presence was discovered, she assisted in moving the herd to safety.

"First Sign That Stallion Picked Up My Scent Or Sound"

"I Have Been Discovered"

"Ears Back, Sounding The Alarm, Swishing The Tail ~ Warning Signs"

"Pawing The Ground ~ Turning The Herd"

"Moving The Herd To Safety"

"Dominant Mare Sounding The Warning Call"

A second herd that I found was led by a black stallion, the younger horses and the two colts in the herd clearly carried the marking of their father, the white blaze on their forehead.

"Lunch Time On The Range"

During lunch, I got a little to close for comfort for the mare, she let me know that I had encroached far enough and led her colt to safety. "Lunch Is Interrupted"

Watching these horses, you have to respect them. They live and survive in a harsh environment. Hot in the summer months with the winter months providing harsher weather conditions than we see in my hometown in Alaska. They are a tough breed, they are the "Wild Ones".