Bison Cow and Calf in Custer State Park, South Dakota

A bison cow and calf graze in Custer State Park, South Dakota, a landscape of prairie and pine forest.
A bison cow and calf graze in Custer State Park, South Dakota, a landscape of prairie and pine forest.

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.

Photo taken in July 2019.

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