Speedy, a 24-year-old bison that became one of the best-known and beloved bison in North America, was found dead Thursday in her enclosure at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana.
Speedy had lived at Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (YWS) since 2005 and was its biggest and most popular resident.
B.R. Walker, the sanctuary’s executive director, told Cowboy State Daily that everyone who cared for Speedy has "the heaviest of hearts" as they mourn the bison's death.
“She lived as normal a life as she could, and she did so beautifully for over 20 years,” she said. “She met thousands of people in her time, and they met her. She lived beautifully and passed peacefully, but there's a great sense of loss here.”
Born To Be Big
Speedy was born in 2001 on a bison ranch in Montana, the smaller baby in a set of twins, so her mother rejected her.
The ranch family hand-reared Speedy, taking the bison calf into their home to ensure she survived. Walker said the bison was already a local celebrity before she was brought to YWS in 2005.
“The family would ride her around in their car, and she went in parades and different events,” she said. “They ultimately decided she was a little big, so she came to live with us.”
Speedy spent the rest of her life in a large enclosure with Luna, another bison from a ranch in Nebraska. She was one of the many animal ambassadors at YWS that could not be released into the wild, but Walker said Speedy was the most popular animal at the sanctuary by far.
“She had a really even temperament,” she said. “Kids could look right at her and get close to her without any danger. Everyone could safely view her in the enclosure, allowing a close-up experience with a bison. She was a good communicator and a great ambassador for her species.”
Looking In And Out
Walker said Speedy’s story provided an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn about bison and their ongoing conservation challenges.
Her life started as an unorthodox pet, and it ended with her nearly reaching the maximum lifespan of a bison, thanks to the care she received at YWS.
“Speedy’s story is important,” Walker said. “We can talk about how bison mothers will sometimes abandon a twin, how people want to take wildlife as pets, and it doesn't work out well. Finally, we have the story of the sanctuary as a place where she could have lifelong care and live as normal a life as a bison should.”
Speedy also provided a platform for the YWS to educate visitors about the ongoing conservation challenges faced by bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. While debate is heating up over how to manage the bison in Yellowstone National Park — some want the park to have more bison and state of Montana fewer —Speedy gave many people a personal connection to these issues.
“There are so many issues related to bison conservation, and it's difficult for us to take a stand on it,” Walker said. “We want people to understand the species but also see their value so that they can make good decisions about where we go in the future with wildlife conservation.”
Speedy the bison died Thursday after spending 24 years as one of the best-known and beloved bison in the Greater Yellowstone Region. She was an animal ambassador at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, since 2005. (Courtesy Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary) 
Speedy the bison died Thursday after spending 24 years as one of the best-known and beloved bison in the Greater Yellowstone Region. She was an animal ambassador at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, since 2005. (Courtesy Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary) 
Speedy the bison died Thursday after spending 24 years as one of the best-known and beloved bison in the Greater Yellowstone Region. She was an animal ambassador at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, since 2005. (Courtesy Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary) 
Speedy the bison died Thursday after spending 24 years as one of the best-known and beloved bison in the Greater Yellowstone Region. She was an animal ambassador at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, since 2005. (Courtesy Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary)
Bison In Memoriam
Many people believe iconic Yellowstone animals should have appropriately reverent memorials. Walker said Speedy will be treated with the same reverence shown to Grizzly 399 after her sudden death in 2024.
“We have arranged for Speedy to be cremated,” she said. “We felt that was the best solution for her. She had a unique set of horns, so we will be keeping her horns so they can be used for our education programs.”
Speedy’s ashes will be scattered in the enclosure where she spent most of her life. Her companion, Luna, will take on the mantle of YWS’s bison ambassador.
“Luna is only 6 or 7 years old, and she’s sure to have a long life with the care we give,” Walker said. “She'll be getting much more attention from the public than she did in Speedy’s shadow.”
Meanwhile, a sculpture of Speedy created by Red Lodge artist Lee Kern was unveiled at the celebration of the bison’s 24th birthday. This ensures that the popular animal ambassador will continue greeting YWS’s visitors for many years to come.
Walker described Speedy as “strong,” citing how she persevered through her mother's rejection to become one of the best-known bison in the history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
“She was a courageous young bison to have survived and lived as long as she did,” she said. “In the case of any animal who’s been in the community for such a long time, it’s especially difficult to say goodbye. With the statue in front of the sanctuary and her ashes scattered in her yard, we feel that she’ll be back home.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
