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2021 Buffalo Roundup, Custer State Park, SD (Sept 2021)
Watching the roundup of approximately 1,300 bison is something I won't soon forget, and not because I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. Thousands of people began cheering at the first sight of these magnificent animals and horseback riders as they came into view over the hills of Custer State Park in South Dakota.
As an animal lover, I couldn't help feeling sorry for the bison as they were herded from the beautiful 71,000 acres of the park to the much smaller corral area, but I realize that this annual tradition is necessary to keep the park's herd healthy. After the roundup, new calves are vaccinated and branded, and a number of bison will be sold to keep the herd numbers at an appropriate level for the available grasslands.
At the corral area, you could get a much closer look at the bison, with a nice, strong fence separating you from these huge animals. If you ever want to see bison and other wildlife, such as mountain goats and bighorn sheep, I highly recommend a visit to western South Dakota. Between the Badlands, Custer State Park and the rest of the Black Hills, you'll likely fill several memory cards with not only photos of wildlife, but also of some pretty amazing scenery.
Watching the roundup of approximately 1,300 bison is something I won't soon forget, and not because I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. Thousands of people began cheering at the first sight of these magnificent animals and horseback riders as they came into view over the hills of Custer State Park in South Dakota.
As an animal lover, I couldn't help feeling sorry for the bison as they were herded from the beautiful 71,000 acres of the park to the much smaller corral area, but I realize that this annual tradition is necessary to keep the park's herd healthy. After the roundup, new calves are vaccinated and branded, and a number of bison will be sold to keep the herd numbers at an appropriate level for the available grasslands.
At the corral area, you could get a much closer look at the bison, with a nice, strong fence separating you from these huge animals. If you ever want to see bison and other wildlife, such as mountain goats and bighorn sheep, I highly recommend a visit to western South Dakota. Between the Badlands, Custer State Park and the rest of the Black Hills, you'll likely fill several memory cards with not only photos of wildlife, but also of some pretty amazing scenery.
