Baby Bison Nova: Born in Joy, Lost Within Days at South Park

Quick Take

• Nova's name honors a promise involving butterflies, and the story behind it is deeply moving.
• Park staff fought through the night to save Nova, but what happened at 4 a.m. changed everything.
• Days after losing her calf, Crimson experienced a moment that many at the preserve found deeply meaningful. See the butterfly moment →
• There's a little-known condition that can claim a calf within 72 hours of birth, and the warning signs are easy to miss. Learn about weak calf syndrome →

The animal kingdom has a beautiful and natural way of honoring grief, as illustrated by the story of a butterfly and a baby bison. At the end of June 2026, Crimson, a 5-year-old bison at the South Park Buffalo Preserve, became a first-time mom when her baby, named Nova, was born, per CBS News.

“What an absolutely incredible morning at the Buffalo Preserve!  Our hearts are overflowing with joy as we welcome our THIRD bouncing buffalo baby of 2026!” the Friends of South Park Buffalo wrote in a Facebook post about the birth on June 28, 2026.

The bison’s name, Nova, is associated with the Hopi meaning “chasing butterflies.” She was given this name for a very special reason. During a public feeding, a butterfly landed on the shoulder of a group member whose mother had recently passed away.

The Facebook group shared another post about the beautiful moment Nova got her name on July 10. They revealed that before the group member’s mother died, she told her daughter, “I’ll send you a butterfly so you’ll know I’m at peace… and that I’m okay.” Days after her mother passed away, a butterfly landed on her shoulder. “In that instant, time seemed to stand still. It was tender. It was unexpected. And it felt like something far greater than coincidence,” the post continued.

The butterfly helped comfort the group member as she grieved her mother and celebrated new life. A few days later, another butterfly would bring comfort to the calf’s mother, Crimson.

Nova Died Just Days After Birth

Unfortunately, just a few days after Nova was born, she died. In an update on July 2, the Facebook group shared, “After celebrating the miracle of new life just days ago, we now find ourselves grieving the loss of one of the smallest members of our beloved buffalo family.”

Nova was struggling to feed, so park officials rushed to buy organic grass-fed whole milk and baby bottles to hand-feed the newborn. “Following the veterinarian’s guidance, Nova was made as comfortable as possible on a bed of towels near the lower feeding area,” explained the group. “A fan was brought in to help keep the calf cool. Two bottles were successfully given, and everyone remained there until just before midnight.”

Still, the calf stopped breathing and died at 4 a.m. the next day. “Our hearts are broken for Crimson,” continued the post. “They are broken for this remarkable buffalo family. And they are broken for everyone who had already fallen in love with this tiny calf.”

Grief and loss are part of nature, and while Crimson stood by her calf’s side in the last hours before Nova died, she was later gifted with a symbolic gesture. In the July 10 post, another incredible moment happened at the preserve.

A few days after her baby died, Crimson was seen walking down a hill with a yellow butterfly chasing her. “In that moment, it felt as though Nova was there with us… still chasing butterflies… still sending love… still reminding us that some bonds are never broken,” they wrote.

All About Baby Buffaloes

When a baby bison is born, it weighs between 30 and 70 pounds and can walk within an hour. They are often called “red dogs” because of their reddish-orange coats, which aren’t as dark brown as they will become as they grow older.

They are super cute, but sadly, they don’t always survive. According to the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, the first year of a calf’s life is the most dangerous period, as they are vulnerable to predators, don’t have essential survival skills yet, and depend on their mothers for nutrition.

Sometimes, newborn calves can suffer from “weak calf syndrome,” which is when a baby is weak and unable to or slow to rise, stand, or nurse, according to Washington State University’s Veterinary Medicine Extension. These calves often die within three days of birth. The condition can be caused by various factors, including poor nutrition in pregnant mothers, a BVD virus infection, difficult birth, exposure to Leptospira bacteria, and more.   

Although baby Nova was only alive for a short time, the beautiful story of hope, connection, grief, and remembrance will stay with us for a long time.