When it comes to temperament, buffalo have a bad reputation. They can be ornery and even downright dangerous, but at the Stampede an unusual bison named Bailey is bucking that trend.
Jim Sautner loves animals, especially his one year old bison Bailey Junior. Jim has raised since it was a baby.
"He's like any family. He is there in the morning. When I get up he comes and greets me."
He also rides in his car and lets Jim ride him. That's unusual for a bison, generally the animals aren't known for their friendliness
"They are probably the most dangerous animal there is when they've got calves with them."
But this bison rancher from Spruce Grove is something of a buffalo whisperer. He can train bison to do unbelievable things. He even taught Bailey Sr. to line dance!
The original Bailey even met the Queen.
Bailey Sr. died a year ago after getting his leg caught a bale feeder. Jim and his wife Linda were devastated. That same month Bailey Jr. was born. The animals aren't related but Jim says, "He's only a year old he acts like an old hand. I think Bailey Sr. is down here too."
And while Bailey Jr. still acts like a baby, sucking Jim's hand like a soother and taking a swipe at a nearby pot of flowers at the Stampede grounds, the legacy of Bailey the Buffalo lives on.
Sautner hopes Bailey Jr. will make it into Ripley's Believe It Or Not as the only buffalo to ever ride in a convertible.
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090708/cgy_bailey_bison_090707/CSI
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