Bison Pasture

The bison pasture is the preserve's most powerful reminder that prairie is a living system, not just scenery. If the herd is visible, watch from a distance and let binoculars do the work.

Do not treat bison like slow cattle. They are fast, heavy, and perfectly capable of charging if crowded. Trail signs and ranger advice matter here, especially when routes pass near grazing areas.

things to do sight nature wildlife
A story
Bison returned to the preserve in 2009 through work by the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. Their grazing is not decorative: it helps shape the prairie, creating the mixed-height grass and disturbed ground that many prairie species need.