Medora and On to Minot
Note: I have added some pictures to the previous post. Check them out.
Happy Anniversary Ken and Julie!
This morning as we got ready to leave the park, Sue said “Let’s take the car and look for some wildlife”.
Just past the entrance to the campground the park road makes about a 25 mile loop through the North Dakota Badlands. If bison are not grazing in your campsite then you might see them ( and other wildlife ) somewhere along this road. We planned to go part way along the loop to look for things and then return. We got about eight miles into the loop before we saw anything – a ranger doing some maintenance along the road. He did happen to be across the road from three wild horses (there are several herds in the park).
We chatted with him for a bit and decided to continue along the loop. Several miles later we came upon a lonely buffalo walking beside the road. We took his picture and moved on.
Several twists and turns later we approached a herd of 10-12 wild horses strolling up the road. They filled the road and were in no hurry to leave it. We followed them for a half mile or so ‘till they finally moved off to the side.
Several miles later a doe and young (and frisky) faun crossed in front of us.
Then we saw another herd of wild horses standing on a ridgeline.
Around a turn, looking across a small valley we saw about 30 bison moving around a hill next to the road. Plodding along stopping to roll in the dust or scratch on large rocks. Around that hill we saw where the first bison were heading. A large, flat meadow/plain next to the Little Missouri River. The scene was like something out of ‘Dances With Wolves’. The plain was filled with bison. Well over 300, maybe over 400. Buffalo everywhere. We have seen large herds in South Dakota but nothing like this. For comic relief the plain is also home to a large prairie dog town, one of many in the park.
Last time we drove this loop everything was quite dry and brown. This time everything was very green and lush. Beautiful!
Wildlife viewing accomplished, we returned to the carbus and headed north and east to Minot.
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