American bison

Description:

Part of the resident American bison herd (numbering about 140 in total animals at this visit according the park manager) -- a tiny remnant of the once vast North American herds. These bison are left alone to roam the 2,200 acres of the park although they are rounded up once a year for health checks and treatment and vaccinations as needed. In 1982, the first nine bison were brought to the park. Following an annual autumn sale of surplus animals (from spring calving), the herd is maintained at about 100 individuals.

Habitat:

Prairie State Park - Mindenmines, MO. "Tallgrass prairies once covered more than a third of Missouri; today, less than one percent remains, much of it preserved at Prairie State Park, Missouri’s largest continuous prairie landscape." http://mostateparks.com/park/prairie-sta... | http://www.midmotoday.com/prairie-state-...

Notes:

Park rules and common sense precluded me from getting any closer.