Be Very Quiet, We’re Tracking Bison
Our son is off to Scout Summer Camp next week. All of the First Year Scouts are earning the Mammal Study Merit Badge, which requires some field work ahead of camp.
He needs to spend three hours in two different kinds of natural habitats, list the different mammal species by sight of sign, and explaining why mammals live in various habitat.
What did we see on our trip to Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie?
Oh, about 35 bison including calves.
Ever since Congress designated the Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie in 1996, people have waited for the day where bison roamed the range. That day came in 2015 when the US Department of Agriculture started repopulating bison. Located near Wilmington, Illinois, the prairie is about 30 minutes from our house.
There are a total of 27 bison, four of which are bulls. A year later, the herd includes 7 calves.
For an hour, my son and I were the only humans with a herd of 35 bison. They wandered within 30-40 feet of the wire fence that separated us all. As they came closer, I quickly determined that we could not out-pedal them on our bicycles if one charged us.
These animals once ruled the prairie until we hunted them to near extinction.
Most Americans won’t see a bison. If they do, it will be at a zoo. Few can see this many.
My son kept repeating how cool is was to be with them. I couldn’t agree more.
