INTERSTATE 81—One of Earth’s most extraordinary natural phenomena coincides with fall break in upstate New York. The Great OurBus Migration is a sight to behold, but it poses significant risks to the surrounding ecosystem.
This weekend, herds consisting of dozens of buses will be seen charging along the ancient migration route. Generations have driven along the same paths each year, slowly carving out these now well-worn highways. It is unclear what triggers the Great OurBus Migration. Is it an instinctive call only these majestic beasts can hear, or perhaps Cornell University’s academic calendar? Experts have yet to pinpoint the precise cause.
On Friday night, a peak time in the migration, eagle-eyed tourists spotted a stampede of OurBuses closing in on a lone Subaru Outback, seemingly separated from its pack. While not the OurBus’ natural prey, Subarus are particularly slow-moving members of the “Mom Car” genus. Amazed onlookers observed natural selection play out before their eyes as the hapless yet economical creature was trampled by the crazed herd.
The annual migration is fraught with danger for the OurBus as well. Not without predators themselves, vulnerable stragglers often fall victim to ambush at 18-wheeler-infested rest stops.
