Northwest Trek Wildlife Park welcomed two American bison calves in less than a week, marking an exciting start to spring in the wildlife park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area.

The first calf, a male named Torrent, was born to mother Rainy on May 8 during Mother’s Day weekend. A second calf, whose sex and name have yet to be determined, was born to mother Cloudy on May 13. Both calves are thriving alongside the park’s bison herd.

Keepers had been closely monitoring the expectant mothers, who were nearing the end of the typical 285-day gestation period. In keeping with natural bison behavior, both Rainy and Cloudy temporarily separated themselves from the herd to give birth and spend quiet time bonding with their newborns before rejoining the group.

“Rainy and Cloudy have both been calm, attentive and very protective mothers,” said McCloskey. “We’ve seen the calves nursing regularly and growing stronger and more confident every day.”

Guests can spot the calves alongside the rest of the herd on Discovery Tram Tours, Wild Drives and Keeper Adventure Tours. Their rusty-orange coats and wobbly but increasingly steady legs make them easy to spot among the larger, darker adults as they explore the grasslands close to their mothers’ sides. Newborn bison calves typically weigh between 40 and 50 pounds at birth.

“There’s something really special about seeing young calves experiencing the world for the first time,” said McCloskey. “Guests will love watching them follow their mothers through the prairie and stay close by their sides.”

Bison once roamed the Great Plains in vast numbers. Tens of millions lived across North America until their population declined to fewer than 1,000 by the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss. Thanks to decades of conservation work by organizations including the American Bison Society, the species has made a remarkable recovery.

Northwest Trek’s bison legacy began in 1971 when six bison were transferred from the National Bison Range in Montana. By the time the park opened to the public on July 17, 1975, the herd was already established. With these newest arrivals, Northwest Trek is now home to 20 bison.

“Each calf born here is an important reminder of the role accredited zoos and wildlife parks play in conservation,” said McCloskey. “It’s exciting for both our team and our guests to watch this next generation grow.”