The first baby bison of the spring has arrived at Fermilab in Batavia.
Officials said the calf born last week brings the herd at the facility to a total of 40 bison.
A press release from Fermilab said that bison have been living on the natural grounds of the facility “since 1969 when the lab’s first director, Robert Wilson, established the herd to connect the lab with the Midwestern prairie on which it’s built.”
The initial herd included one bull, two cows and three yearlings and was enhanced with another 12 animals that “were donated by the Illinois Department of Conservation in 1971 to help diversify the stock.”
Cleo Garcia, 61, of Batavia, who has served as Fermilab’s bison herdsman for over 12 years, noted that nearly all of the current animals are descendants from the original herd and that the only changes made are to the bull stock which he said is rotated every five to six years “to keep (the herd) healthy and genetically diverse.”
“As far as calves go, we expect to have more than 20 this year,” Garcia said. “Lately we have been having more because we have more cows than we used to. Before we had like 12 but now we have over 20.”
Garcia said there is a notable uptick in visitors to the facility once word gets out that calves have been born.
“You can see more people around the fences and taking pictures,” he said. “People try to see the babies. They are more interested in them when they are young. At the end of the season they lose interest. Even though this has nothing to do with the science here it’s an attraction. For more than 50 years, it’s something that people around Fermilab know about.”
Guests are not allowed to interact with the bison in any way, Garcia said, noting that “they are still wild animals and we keep them locked up.”
“It’s not safe for people to feed them or be close to them,” he said.
The newest member of Fermilab’s bison herd was born on an 80-degree spring day. Garcia said that despite births coming when they come, weather still seems to make a difference.
“When it (the birth) is due it’s due, but we notice that when it’s going to be stormy or a storm is coming and is close to the area you have more births,” he said. “I think it may be the pressure in the atmosphere.”
According to the release, calving season is expected to continue through July, and perhaps a bit longer. The final calf of last year’s season was born in September.
As more calves arrive, the grounds team will be on the lookout to ensure they are thriving, officials said.
For those visiting the herd, Garcia suggested coming to Fermilab’s public areas multiple times throughout the season to see the color of the calves change from a light cinnamon to a dark brown. And of course keep an eye out for how playful the newborns can be at Fermilab.
“They play sometimes,” Garcia said, “You see them running around and start jumping, especially after nursing.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
