Rare white bison born at Central Texas ranch

Rare white bison born at Burnet County ranch

For a central Texas bison rancher, the recent birth of a calf brought surprise and awe. It's something rare, and has significant meaning for many Native American tribes.

BURNET, Texas - At Wagon Springs Ranch, much of Carl Chambers’ time is spent corralling Blanco, a blonde bison, and his ladies.

"We noticed, like three years ago, when we were breeding him, that every time a calf was born, it was this really light-colored cream. And we thought, ‘Oh my goodness, that's what he's throwing every time,’" Chambers. "That’s when we were like, ‘Well, let's breed him with this blonde and see what happens.’"

Blonde plus blonde equaled white. And white is once in a blue moon.

"We leaned down and looked into the brush and I said, ‘What is that?’" said Chambers. "I was like, ‘Oh my goodness.’"

The white calf was given the name Unatsi, which means ‘snow’ in Cherokee, one of many Native American tribes that would hold the calf in high esteem.

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According to the National Park Service, the birth of a white calf is considered a good omen and "sacred within the American Indian communities, because it brings a sense of hope and is a sign that good times are about to happen."

Chambers said he has some Cherokee roots, and they have reached out to a local tribe.

Blanco also bred with another other blonde bison, the sister of Unatsi’s mom, and the calf was still born blonde.

"So that's when we knew this is still something really rare," said Chambers.