Where the bison are...

Minneopa State Park is home to a herd of at least a dozen bison. The park has fenced off a large tract of land for them to range, largely undisturbed by humans. There is a gravel road that runs through the length of the enclosure, with cattle guards at either end to prevent their moseying away. The road, eventually, ends at a historic mill with a view of their grazing land.

Usually, the bison are somewhere hard to see. Today, however, they were right next to the road! This lady was just finishing up her salad and looking for the next one. Yum!

The bird seeming to land on this one's back is actually providing air support. Mosquitoes, flies, and other biting insects ruthlessly attack the bison. This was the first I'd seen of this seemingly symbiotic relationship! The bird would land nearby and routinely fly over bison's back, grabbing a snack in the process.

Here are a couple more photos from earlier this spring. About two weeks ago, the bison were up against the enclosure fence and I was fortunate enough to stop by at the right time.

This is a portrait of a young bison. The horns are shorter, which is a good indication that this is one of last years' calves.

This last image is of the old Seppman Mill, mentioned above. A historical marker indicates that it was completed in 1864. Lightning and storm damage, combined with technological advances that made wind-powered mills less desirable, led to it's eventual retirement from use. The ruins of this mill are on the National Register of Historic Places.

As always, thank you for taking a look at my work!