Custer State Park in South Dakota is closely identified with bison and is home to one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the world, ranging from about 950 animals in winter to around 1500 in summer. Since 1914, the park has successfully introduced and preserved the species through hands-on management that respects its natural heritage. That year, South Dakota bought 36 bison from James "Scotty" Philip and placed them in the Custer State Game Preserve; the herd included six bulls, 18 cows, and 12 calves, and this small group became the beginning of many noted bison herds. Philip had obtained his herd in 1901 from the estate of neighboring rancher Pete Dupree, who had captured five calves during one of the last bison hunts along the Grand River in northwestern South Dakota; these calves were among the last remaining wild bison in North America and may have left genetic descendants across the nation. The park's first bison arrived by railroad at nearby Hermosa and were then herded the remaining 10 miles by horse. Today, seasonal conditions affect where bison are most easily seen, with animals often seeking shade trees in summer and grazing open meadows in winter, pushing snow away from buried grasses. The herd is managed to maintain species diversity and a high-quality, disease-free population, with annual vaccinations for brucellosis, pinkeye, parasites, and other health issues, while surplus animals are sorted and auctioned to keep numbers within the park's carrying capacity. The fall Buffalo Round-Up is used to inventory the herd and has also become a major spectator event, and each fall newborn calves are branded with an "S" for state-owned and a number marking the year of birth. National attention came on February 12, 1966, when a live bison auction attracted bidders from across the Midwest and helped start a new industry in raising bison. Proper management has made bison an economic asset for the park and supports the herd's continued success and future sales.

Photo: Daniel Barriball

Fairburn, South Dakota · USA