Buffalo and Pronghorns

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Every time I make a roadtrip, I make an effort to spot wildlife and take photos. On this trip to the western states, one of my favorite spots was Custer State Park in South Dakota. There are plenty of tourist attractions in SD, Sturgis, Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and many more. Custer State Park offers a real opportunity to get amoungst some awesome wildlife.

 

[snowman]

Thanks for posting these great pictures!

I wonder how bison keep from freezing their rear ends off in the wintertime.

Andy

 

[Roadtrash]

The cold is scared of them.

 

[6518John]

Them bulls 'll hook you!

Gus McCrae: Let's chase 'em. You want to?

Pea Eye Parker: Shoot us one for our supper?

Gus McCrae: No, I mean chase 'em just for the sport of it!

Pea Eye Parker: to run them off?

Gus McCrae: You don't get the point, do you Pea? I mean chase 'em, because before long, there won't be any buffalo left TO chase,

Pea Eye Parker: Them bulls 'll hook you. D'you remember ol' man Barlow? A buffalo hooked him bad,

Gus McCrae: Old man Barlow was a slow thinker, kinda like somebody else I could name

Pea Eye Parker: Well he was a slow walker, too, after that buffalo got through with him.

 

[Iggy]

Buffler have hair like that so that they can graze into blizzards.
Their head is also located lower on their body for the same reason. Critters have to graze into the wind to see what is available in a storm, and with the wool on their heads and over their eyes, they are perfectly equipped to survive on the their prairie home. They also have more hair on the back end in the winter than those with summer coats in the pictures.

If you compare a cow and a buff, you will see the difference.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The Custer Park wildlife loop is not just great for seeing wildlife, it is a truly great motorcycle venue. The road is like a roller coaster that closely follows the convoluted topography. Of course, during Rally Week, there are a lot of slow Harleys wobbling through the turns, but they are easy to pass, because you can see all the way through a lot of the turns.

Near the buffalo corrals, there is a road (Red Valley Road) that runs south from the Loop down through the back side of Wind Cave NP. More great scenery and lots more wildlife.