Returning the Bison to Wind Cave National Park
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National Park Service Wind Cave National Park U.S. Department of the Interior Official Newspaper 2013 Returning the Bison to Wind Cave What’s Inside Cave Tour Schedule....................7 National Park Hiking Information.....................3 Junior Ranger..............................6 The mixed-grass prairie of Wind Cave National its habitat. And in Park has a timeless quality. Its wind-blown grasses, this instance, a part Park Map.....................................3 grazing bison, chirping prairie dogs, and plentiful of the mixed-grass Planning Your Visit.....................2 wildlife seem to be in perfect harmony with the sur- prairie was protected. Safety Information.....................2 rounding landscape. Yet when established in 1903, In 1935, the Resource Mgmt History...........4-5 much of what makes Wind Game Preserve was Cave National Park merged into Wind unique and special was Cave National Park. Wind Cave National Park missing. The cave was pro- Soon thereafter Superintendent tected and was receiving Civilian Conservation Vidal Davila all of the attention; its Corps crews working Mailing Address 26611 US Highway 385 beauty and unusual nature at the park began Hot Springs, SD 57747 were amazing visitors and removing internal Rocky Mountain Elk Wind Cave Boxwork E-mail geologist from around the fences opening the entire 11,000 acres for the wildlife [email protected] world. The surface world, on the other hand, was the to roam. Game Warden A.P. Chambers reported its realm of ranchers and farmers. The prairie’s special affect: It was interesting to watch the antelope… They Phone and Fax Numbers 605-745-4600 / 605-745-4207 beauties and importance had not been discovered. covered the entire east range, running hither and yon. When Wind Cave National Park was created the In the 1940s, managers recognized that the best Website great herds of bison that roamed the land were a thing way to protect the land was to reestablish the native http://www.nps.gov/wica of the past. Prairie dog towns which had extended for prairie grasses that had survived droughts and disasters hundreds of miles were only a vague memory. The for eons. They began replanting these native grasses Follow us on Facebook eastern elk was extinct and the Rocky Mountain elk and today, according to The Nature Conservancy, the Wind Cave National Park had moved to remote mountainous areas. The prong- park has several exemplary vegetative sites that are rep- In Case of Emergency horn antelope were moving to the high plains of resentative of those that once covered the Great Plains. Dial 911 Wyoming, Montana, and points west. As the land was Additional protection for the prairie ecosystem plowed and fenced, patches of untouched prairie occurred in the early 1970s when the park initiated a Welcome from the became fewer and farther between. prescribed burn policy. Fire is a tool that can be used Superintendent Welcome to Wind Cave National Park. This national park is one of the oldest in the country. Established in 1903, it was the eighth national park created and the first set aside to protect a cave. It was barely more than a hundred years ago that to thin the forest and protect the prairie from an effort was made to protect prairie wildlife and their encroaching ponderosa pine trees. While Wind Cave is the major habitat. Wind Cave National Park played a major role In 2007, the tradition of protecting native plants attraction with its unique boxwork in protecting both. and animals continued when black-footed ferrets were and significant underground cave For the buffalo, the story began when people in the returned to the park’s prairie dog towns. Black-footed passageways, the surface resources, mid-1870s started protesting the wanton killing of ferrets are part of a prairie ecosystem that has been including both natural and cultural resources, are also worth the stop. these amazing animals. Their efforts resulted in the drastically altered and reduced in size over the past The buildings around the visitor cen- creation of the American Bison Society. This group of century. By ter date back to the 1930s Civilian individuals was interested in preserving the American reintroducing Conservation Corps. The wildlife bison by establishing bison herds throughout the coun- the endangered such as bison, elk, mule deer, prong- try. Out of several possible sites in South Dakota, black-footed horn antelope, prairie dogs, and Wind Cave National Park was chosen, and in 1912, the ferret, the park black-foot ferrets are also exciting to view. Wind Cave National Game Preserve was created. is assisting the The following year, a mere 100 years ago, the bison U.S. Fish and Today, visitors from around the Black-footed Ferret arrived. The fourteen bison that started the Wind Cave Wildlife world come to see these two parks herd in 1913 came as a gift from the American Bison Service to recover the ferrets from near extinction and in one. Our hope is that you have a Society and the New York Zoological Society. Later an enhancing the park’s prairie ecosystem. The current safe and enjoyable visit to Wind additional six bison joined the herd from Yellowstone population of ferrets in the park is about 60 animals. Cave National Park, take plenty of National Park. To read more about these events, visit Wind Cave National Park has played an important pictures, participate in our programs, and leave nothing behind but foot- page 4 of this newspaper. part in the history of restoring a small portion of the prints. The following year, 1914, the elk and pronghorn Great Plains. The return of the bison, elk, pronghorn, antelope arrived. The challenges of managing the black-footed ferret, and the protection of a shrinking Travel Safe, wildlife were great, but the sustained effort paid off in habitat provides us with the opportunity to see the a way probably not foreseen by the American Bison prairie in its splendor and to experience a naturally Vidal Davila Society. To protect an animal, you also have to protect functioning system with most of the pieces in place. Superintendent Simple Rules for Safety and to Protect Park Resources Protecting the Park stand and comply with all applica- safe distance from all wildlife - at % Traveling in the Park Park resources are for everyone to ble state, local, and federal firearms least 100 yards from bison and elk. All vehicles (including bicycles) enjoy. Do not disturb or remove laws. Federal law prohibits must remain on roadways that are plants, wildlife, antlers, bones, firearms in certain facilities in ` Pets open to the public. Off-road driving rocks, or any other natural or this park; these places are posted To protect your pet and park or bicycle riding is prohibited. cultural feature. They are protect- with signs at public entrances. If wildlife remember: pets are pro- ed by federal law. These resources you have questions, please contact hibited in the backcountry and on Slow down and enjoy the view! are all part of the park’s ecosystem the park at 605-745-4600. most hiking trails. Pets are per- When driving park roads, obey all and are important to the park’s mitted on the Prairie Vista Nature speed limits. They are strictly history and to the survival of other 4 Wildlife Trail near the picnic area. Be sure enforced to protect you and the animals and plants. Please leave Animals in the park are wild and to clean up after your pet. Pets may wildlife. In the last twenty years these objects undis- unpredictable. Do not approach not be left unattended and must be over eighty bison have been struck turbed so the or attempt to feed them. Feeding on a leash at all times. Be aware and killed by motor vehicles in the next visitor can animals causes them to become that ticks are common in high grass. park. You can help protect the enjoy them. dependent on handouts and they They may affect your pet and you. wildlife; obey all posted speed limits may fail to survive the winter. and watch out for animals on the Weapons Animals that are fed are attracted to Do not leave your pets in your road - they may appear suddenly. As of February 22, 2010, a new highways where they can be struck vehicle while visiting the cave or Keep your seatbelt fastened. federal law allows people who can by vehicles. for any length of time. The tem- legally possess firearms under peratures inside a vehicle can be- federal, South Dakota, and local Be aware that rattlesnakes are come extreme, putting your pet in laws to possess firearms while sometimes found in prairie dog grave danger. Kennel space is avail- visiting Wind Cave National Park. towns and other areas of the park. able in Hot Springs or Custer. Pets However, hunting and/or the use Bison also frequent prairie dog may not be left unattended outside of firearms is still prohibited. It is towns. They can run 35 miles per of a vehicle, even if they are the visitor’s responsibility to under- hour and may weigh a ton! Stay a leashed. Drive safely, watch for animals on the road Planning Your Visit i Visitor Center Rattlesnakes will not usually strike derstorms can be dangerous with The Wind Cave Visitor Center is a unless provoked. large hail and severe lightning. great place to start your park visit. Slow-moving storms can dump large The visitor center is open from 8:00 * Bicycling amounts of rain over a small area. a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with extend- Bicycling is limited to established The steep canyons, rock cliffs, and ed hours during the summer.