A young bison calf, affectionately known as a "red dog," makes its way across a green Yellowstone hillside during the brief renewal of spring. Its rich reddish-orange coat stands in striking contrast to the fresh grass, a reminder that only weeks earlier much of this landscape was locked beneath snow and ice.
 
Each spring, the arrival of red dogs signals a new chapter in Yellowstone's annual cycle. Born into a world of unpredictable weather, predators, and constant movement, these calves must quickly learn to keep pace with the herd. Though small now, this calf will one day become part of one of North America's most iconic wildlife success stories.
 
The American bison once numbered in the tens of millions, shaping grasslands and ecosystems across the continent. By the late 1800s, relentless hunting had pushed them to the brink of extinction. Yellowstone's herd became one of the last remnants of a species that had nearly vanished forever.