Bison Cow and Calf in Custer State Park, South Dakota

A bison cow and calf graze in Custer State Park, South Dakota. The park's herd, numbering around 1,300 animals, inhabits a landscape of prairie and ponderosa pine forest, mirroring the historical Great Plains habitat. Spring births bring hundreds of reddish-brown calves, known as "red dogs," which gradually darken as they mature. This protected population represents a significant conservation success, having brought the American bison back from the brink of extinction in the early 20th century.