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National
parks are great places to see wildlife. However, that has
not always
been the case. In the early 1900's many animal populations were
nearing extinction because of habitat destruction or hunting
pressures.
You couldn't see them in the wild or in national parks.
At one time, more than 60 million bison roamed
this continent. By the early 1900's fewer than 1,000 were left.
Some were in zoos, a scattering on private ranches and a few were
still wild in places like Yellowstone but most wild bison had
been killed.
People noticed what was happening and took action.
Ranchers started private herds and zoos began protecting species
at risk. Conservationists and hunters realized that action must
also be taken to protect the animals' habitats or we might never
see them in the wild again.
In 1911, the American Bison Society looked for
places to establish free roaming bison herds. They selected Wind
Cave National Park as one of the first areas where these animals
would be returned to the wild. The rolling mixed grass prairie
is excellent habitat for bison.
Other animals, like pronghorn and elk, were reintroduced
to the park at the same time. Because of this effort, we can see
elk, bison, pronghorn, turkeys and even prairie dogs. And, just
as important, we can see the habitat that supports them.
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