By Megan Langlois, BFC Intern

I was fully prepared to write a science/sustainability update this week on how the Buffalo and their numbers, near extinction in the wild, are viewed from a scientific perspective. I also considered focusing my update on my stories of seeing the calves growing and progressing from little babies shaky on their legs to having tiny horn buds poking out their growing reddish-brown frames.

But I want to talk about something else I've witnessed…

Rear L to R: Nathan, Erik, Lev, Tate, Jacob. Front: Megan. Photo by Jamie van Der Lei

While patrolling and during the first portion of my internship/volunteering, I've got to say the most interesting social aspect is the culmination of different backgrounds and diversity on patrols and within BFC.  The new things and conversations we have about not only the Buffalo but culture and our ideas of community and how it could be for the better. These talks are a nightly ritual and eye-opening to different ideas and perspectives of reality as opposed to keeping to close-minded or paranoid solidarity.

As my fellow volunteer, Jamie from the Netherlands stated, “It's very gezellig”, translating to a cozy vibe or comfy feeling, a genuine pleasantness. None of us judge based on our experiences or lack of them as we are all learning collectively.

So far within the month, I've met three environmental majors among a total of seven to eight volunteers I've seen come through the doors overlapping my own time here. It has been amazing as I've gotten to see the other focuses and ideas on what environmentalism actually is vs. its portrayal. We're stereotypically a solitary bunch who keep to our plants and/or animal hyper-fixations and interests. But because we come together in the ‘place to gather’ of BFC and for a joined purpose, our work here unites us no matter the background. Even if some are not conservation/environmental based, we are dedicated to the Buffalo and their safety, even with all our unique backgrounds.

Some of us are braver or stronger than others. Some of us are better at different jobs. Some of us speak our minds or theorize, whereas others prefer listening. Lastly, some of us have horrendous backstories and lives, whereas others feel they're pretty “normal” in perspective. But I've got to say, we're all pretty weird still.

In all seriousness, I'll be here through the spring, and previously I'd never been able to leave my side of North Carolina, so it's already caused me to view things and life slightly differently, from patrol conversations to philosophical ones.

I'm not always the most social with people, but I talk to every dog I see, so I've previously been very cautious of humanity and our “closed-mindedness“.  In my caution, I realized it became more of a paranoia than about safety. I let anxiety and my own actual close-mindedness to social situations create fear of people in general and that's not a productive mindset as nothing gets done if we don't talk or even yell sometimes.

But that's changed as I've witnessed Mike Mease, BFC’s Co-founder, have conversations with every community member he can to build the family we have and also somehow manage to keep our ragtag group in line as best as possible.

We are people that may disagree, bicker, and fight or get irritated because of our differences, but it's a family and one focused on a common goal.  As an affirmation of future conservation careers, by helping the Buffalo and demonstrating why they should be allowed to live their lives freely,  it shows what can be accomplished if a combination of backgrounds comes together on singular issues to create tangible solutions. Though we are working on the toughest of problems, a belief in strength in numbers or a “herd” mentality in migration if you will is what the Buffalo teach.

I know the BFC experience itself—the conversation, the games, the bickering, and getting down to the business of chores, who's cooking dinner, or sharing stories, patrol duties, and most importantly, the Buffalo—has already been a formative experience and a combination of different hive minds and chaotic personalities.

We may be nearing the moment the calves go back with the herd to summer grazing grounds inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP) but at BFC outreach continues from the field to the park and beyond.  We appreciate any and all volunteers and interns…so join us in the field and form experiences socially, politically,  as well in conservation.  Learn from the Buffalo to come together with the community to form a more connected one.All collages provided by Megan Langlois