Custer State Park: A Legacy of Conservation and Preservation

Custer State Park: A Legacy of Conservation and Preservation. . When visitors think of Custer State Park, many of them envision bison. Even though the park contains a wealth of natural and cultural history, bison are often viewed as the icon of South Dakota's largest state park., The park is home to one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the world. It varies in size from about 950 head in the winter to around 1500 during the summer. Using hands-on management techniques, yet respecting their natural heritage, the park has successfully introduced and preserved the species since 1914., Custer State Park Raised a Bison Herd from Scratch , In 1914, the State of South Dakota purchased 36 bison from James "Scotty" Philip and placed them in the Custer State Game Preserve. The original herd consisted of six bulls, 18 cows, and 12 calves. This small group of animals was the genesis of many noted bison herds in the world.,

"Our western Plains will again support countless numbers of these magnificent useful creatures which came so near to becoming extinct through wanton greed, cruelty, and thoughtlessness of white men.", James "Scotty" Philip 1905

, History photo captions: "Scotty" Philip obtained his herd of bison from the estate of a neighboring rancher, Pete Dupree, in 1901. Dupree captured five calves during one of the last bison hunts along the Grand River in northwestern South Dakota. Today, these five calves perhaps have genetic history scattered across the nation; they were some of the last remaining wild bison in North America. , The park's first bison arrived at the nearby town of Hermosa by railroad. Park staff herded them the remaining 10 miles using horses., Where are the Buffalo? , One of the most common questions asked by park visitors is, "Where are the buffalo?" What seems like an easy task of spotting large animals on an open prairie may be difficult depending on the season. During the summer, bison will often seek the shelter of shade trees. In the winter, bison are often observed grazing in open meadows, pushing snow away from the buried grasses., Bison photo caption: Herds of bison cross scenic byways in the park on a nearly daily basis. For many visitors, this is their first time witnessing bison up close...an awe-inspiring moment., Hands-on Management Preserves the Herd , Custer State Park manages its bison in order to maintain the diversity of the species, along with ensuring a high quality, disease-free herd. The bison are vaccinated each year for brucellosis, pinkeye, parasites, and a host of other health issues. Surplus animals are sorted and auctioned off in order to reduce the herd size to the park's carrying capacity., Bison management photo captions: The Buffalo Round-Up each fall is used as a management tool for inventorying the herd. However, it has also become a large spectator event for visitors and wildlife photographers from around the world. , Every fall season, Custer State Park brands the newborn calves. The brands include an "S" which means state-owned and a number indicating the year of its birth. A "9" stands for 2019, 2009, 1999, etc. , Custer State Park received national attention when it offered a live bison auction on February 12, 1966. The event attracted bidders from across the Midwest and started a new industry in raising bison. , Bison are an economic asset for the park. Proper management ensures the continued success of the herd and its future sales.