Military Reunion 2009
Pronghorn
Bison
A Herd Of Bison
White Tail Deer (in ravine)
Burros
Pronghorn
Bison
A Herd Of Bison
White Tail Deer (in ravine)
Burros
Custar State Park
The second day in the Black Hills began with a tour of Custar State Park. The Park encompasses a 71,000 acre tract which is a preserve for elk, bison, burros, mountain goats, whitetail and mule deer, antelope, and pronghorns.
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Peter Norbeck, Governor of South Dakota and later Senator earned the nickname "Father Of Custar State Park". It was his vision in 1912 and later the collaboration with Gutzon Borglum which created Iron Mountain Road. This road would take visitors over Iron Mountain and connect with Mt. Rushmore National Park through a series of pig-tail bridges and tunnels that frame Mt. Rushmore.
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The bison herd is held at 1,500 to maintain the number the land can support. Each September a ceremonial round up is held and the bison are counted. To help keep a count each bison wears a collar with a chip. As old bison die and young calves are born, a veterinarian checks over the herd to determine which should be eliminated to maintain the number.
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In 1927 President Calvin Coolidge made Custar State Park the Summer Whitehouse.
4 comments:
beautiful bisons!
Thank you. It is a wonderful sight to see the animals grazing in their natural habitat and so free to roam.
looks like you had a great time at the army reunion!
It was fun from day one until we arrived back home. Just a great time!
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