Wildlife enthusiast and retired biologist and professor Gary Gaston had a rare opportunity last month in the breathtaking landscape of Yellowstone National Park: witnessing the birth of a white bison calf.

For years, both locals and visitors have been drawn to this majestic area for fishing and wildlife observation. A devoted outdoorsman, Gaston retired from the University of Mississippi after nearly 20 years as a biology professor, now holding the title of Professor Emeritus. These days, he spends much of his free time in Yellowstone, focusing on grizzly bear watching.

Before his passion turned to bear watching in 2016, Gaston would visit Yellowstone to join fellow fly fishers. On days when the weather wasn’t conducive to fishing, he found himself increasingly captivated by the park’s wildlife.

“I got to where I enjoyed that more than fishing,” he admits, though he still holds a fondness for angling.

Gaston meticulously watches, counts, photographs, and films grizzly bears, contributing data to fellow bear watcher Bill Hamblin for daily reports. During his most recent visit in May and June, what began as a typical trip turned extraordinary with not just one, but two incredibly rare wildlife encounters.

While observing bears on June 4th, Gaston was approached by a fellow watcher who showed him a photo of an astonishing sight: a newborn white bison.

“I said, ‘Oh, it’s white.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I think that’s weird, right?’” Gaston said. He immediately headed to the location where the photo was taken.

When he arrived, Gaston witnessed the white bison calf standing near its mother and promptly set up his camera to capture the moment. Born near Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, the calf, though attempting to nurse before Gaston’s arrival, was now on its feet, wobbling close to its mother.

Gaston managed to film a couple of minutes of video capturing the calf’s tentative steps. Shortly after, mother and calf moved along with other bison, toward the woods and out of sight. As of the latest update, park officials have been unable to locate the calf since June 4th.

According to Yellowstone officials, the calf exhibits leucism rather than albinism, characterized by black eyes and hooves with some pigmentation. The park noted that a similar birth hadn’t occurred since the late 19th century. The chance for a white bison birth is pproximately 1 in 1 million.

Gaston’s video of the white bison has gained widespread attention nationally and beyond. Local Native Americans held a ceremony on the sovereign land of the Shoshone-Bannock near West Yellowstone to honor the calf’s birth, gathering tribal members from various regions to celebrate and reflect on its significance.

Just a day after the white bison sighting, Gaston and his group were treated to another remarkable spectacle: a bear with five cubs, an occurrence nearly as rare as the white bison itself.

“It was unbelievable to see two crazy and rare things happen within 24 hours,” Gaston remarked.

Gaston plans to return to Yellowstone in the fall.