Bison on Wildlife Loop Road, Custer State Park

Closeup of a large Bison
Closeup of a large Bison.

An American bison stands near the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park, South Dakota, at dawn. Custer State Park manages one of the largest bison herds in the country, preserving a lineage tied to the Great Plains ecosystem and Native American history. The park's conservation efforts, including annual roundups, aim to maintain the health of the prairie and the bison population, which once numbered in the millions before the 19th century. Bison are a keystone species, their grazing habits significantly influencing the biodiversity of the grasslands.

Photo taken in July 2019.

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South Dakota
Badlands, Black Hills, and Custer State Park across multiple trips
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Custer State Park
20 photos
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
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