BWC Updates: March 14, 2026

The latest news from Ron & T of The Buffalo Wool Co. at RATH Ranch. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Hello and Good Morning Friends!

Hope all is well in your part of the world, life here is good. We got 2000 lbs of socks in Thursday morning on 4 pallets, and managed to get all the pre-orders out that day, so that was nice, and is weight off the shoulders. it's 4:30 on a Saturday morning, and trying to come up with something fun and enjoyable while you drink that first cup...

Clint is doing a great job at harvesting fiber for this years production, although there are less animals than prior years, which means a bit less production overall, but we are still in business! We have a lot of good new things on the board for this year, and it's time to get to work.

Trying to get stuff done, keep the wheels on the wagon, sneaking some time to follow along with the Iditarod as much as we can, and hopefully do a bit of good for the planet. Have also been recording the book "Lupus Rex" by John C. Cash, for the grandkids, it's a wonderful story about two quail and their struggle to be brave vs the crows, we really like being able to read long distance to them... It's fun, and they listen over and over again. Life is a full time job.

Today's stuff is all things we have been sent by friends, and we truly appreciate your taking the time to share these stories with us.

I hope you enjoy what we have today!

Ron, T, Piggy Wrangler, and the rest of the crew here at the BWC!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

SO, this is a thing that happened... we are honored.

Iditarod Rookie's Bison Encounter:

48-year-old rookie musher Jody Potts-Joseph—from Fairbanks and the first of Hän Gwich’in heritage to enter the race—is making her way along the trail with determination. She's just departed the Rohn checkpoint, focused on the path ahead, when suddenly, around the corner, she encounters a large bison.

This imposing animal begins approaching her team, lowering its head and advancing several times—three or four in total. It seems as though the bison mistook her dogs for something to investigate closely.Jody, quick on her feet, reaches for her pistol in an effort to deter it. But unexpectedly, the gun jams, producing only clicks instead of firing. In the moment, she takes cover behind some trees and tries throwing sticks to encourage the bison to move on—though, as one might expect, this doesn't have much effect.

Drawing on her heritage, Jody then recalls words from her grandmother, ancient Hän Gwich’in phrases meaning "Go away, have mercy on us, leave us alone," which she uses to help calm the situation. The bison seems to have heard her words, and fortunately, no dogs, people or bison were injured during the encounter, and it only delayed her by less than an hour.

Friend sent an article on bison fiber online..

it didn't mention us at all, but it's pretty interesting...

Bison Fiber: The Fluffy, Fuzzy Superhero of Natural Textiles!Hey there, fiber fans! Let's dive into the wild world of bison fiber – that luxurious, eco-warrior undercoat from our shaggy North American icons. This stuff isn't just fluff; it's a comeback story wrapped in softness. According to this groovy overview, bison fiber (aka bison down or buffalo wool) has been rocking the scene for centuries. Native American tribes were the OG users, spinning it into cozy blankets, clothes, and even tipi linings back when bison roamed free.

But oh no – the 1800s brought overhunting and population crashes, putting this fiber on the endangered list. Fast-forward to the 21st century: bison herds are bouncing back, and so is the fiber game, thanks to ranchers and mills turning it into high-end goodies.What makes bison fiber so bison-tastic? Picture this: it's the fine, downy underlayer that bison shed naturally each spring (no haircuts needed!). At just 15-18 microns thick, it's as soft as cashmere with a silky vibe that screams "hug me." Superpowers include killer insulation – trapping air like a pro to keep you toasty without overheating – plus it's breathable, lightweight, and moisture-wicking (bye-bye, sweat!). It's tough as nails too, resisting pilling and breakage, and it's hypoallergenic, so no itchy woes like with some wools. Bonus: it fights odors, shines with a natural luster, and biodegrades like a champ. Under a microscope? Smooth scales with a gentle crimp for extra fluff factor.

Production? It's a hands-on adventure! Ranchers comb the fuzz right off the bison or scoop it up from the ground during shed season or shear the hides. Then it's sorted, de-haired (gotta ditch those coarse outer guards), and spun into yarn. Since bison aren't your typical farm animals – they're wild at heart – this keeps things low-impact and sustainable. No mega-farms or water-guzzling ops here; just nature doing its thing.Now, the fun part: what can you make with this beastly bounty?

High-fashion alert! It's perfect for winter warriors like coats, scarves, gloves, hats, and socks that feel like a warm bison hug. Blend it into fabrics for that cashmere-level luxury, or stuff it into pillows, comforters, and mattress pads for dreamland bliss. Home decor? Think plush upholstery, rugs, and throws that add rustic elegance. And for the adventurers: moisture-wicking activewear, outdoor gear, and sports duds that handle the elements.

Sustainability score? Off the charts! Bison roam free-range, munching on native grasses without needing extra feed or resources. Harvesting is humane (just collecting what they drop), and the fiber breaks down naturally – no plastic pollution nightmares like synthetics. Compared to cashmere (similar softness but often less eco-friendly due to goat overgrazing) or wool (coarser and more allergenic), bison fiber wins for being rarer, greener, and kinder to the planet. All in all, this article paints bison fiber as the ultimate sustainable luxury – warm, versatile, and ready to rumble in the textile world.

Read the original article here. https://smartloom.blogspot.com/2025/01/bison-fiber-comprehensive-overview.html

From AllAboutBison.com: Bison Smell really well.

Sense of smell, Bison have an amazing sense of smell, with approximately 300 million olfactory receptor cells – the same amount you would find in a bloodhound. A wolf, by comparison, has about 200 million, and humans a puny five million. Scent molecules that are undetectable to humans carry a myriad of messages to bison. This, coupled with their exceptional hearing, extends their perception of the world outwards for a mile or two at any given time. Even when they are face down in the tall grass, bison are acutely aware of their surroundings.

McHuge thought they could notice a smell at least one mile distant, Inman (1899: 246) stretched this distance to four miles. Two authors stated that buffalo scented water when it was “five miles or more” away (Garretson, 1938: 46) or “miles distant” (Inman, 1899:247). Vision was evidently not as acute nor relied upon as much as scent.

Image: Graeme McCrady

BACK IN STOCK! Casual Crew and Sleep Socks in all sizes are on the shelf and ready to ship! This will be the only batch of these two we make this year, so if you want some, get them while we have em. We did get a batch of the new bison/silk yarn in, and will be skeining it off and dying it this week... if you have color preferences, let me know.

Kim has delivered another round of bison tallow soaps, along with some new spring fresh fragrences. She really has gotten great at these.

From a friend: left a very nice review

Awesome sleep socks Most socks wind up making me feel a little claustrophobic while I sleep. I wind up waking up and kicking my socks off on the fairly rare occasions I sleep with socks on (mainly deep winter) - wool socks, athletic socks, doesn't matter. These, on the other hand, are breathable and airy enough where they don't trigger that in me, while keeping my feet warm but not sweaty warm - which is a super neat trick. Deep winter where you get the chills even with the heat turned up is where these shine for me - as well as just general wear around the house socks. I was skeptical like everyone else would be but after the 3rd night in deep winter with these on, I ordered a couple more pairs. I probably won't use them outside of winter, but for those nights...these things are priceless.