Where the Buffalo roam...

It is quite a picture to see hundreds of buffalo roaming over the hills. The Badlands and Custer State Park in the Black Hills both have herds of bison. They roam freely in parts of the park, and it's not unusual to be caught up in a buffalo jam and then just wait until the herd crosses the road. What's the difference in buffalo and bison? We heard several explanations of this during our visit. "Bison" is actually the true name for the animal, but European explorers thought they looked so much like buffalo, the water buffalo that you see in Asia, that the name "buffalo" just stuck. They are the biggest mammals native to North America, and they are very large. Lumbering, slow, and fairly unconcerned with just about anything, until they get ticked off. Then, you better watch out. You know, a lot like Dave (by his own description).

You can drive yourself on several loops and dirt roads through the park and just watch for the wildlife. Some scurried away from us; others acted like they could've cared less.

We only saw a few mountain goats, and we had to wait for them to cross the road. They were in no hurry.

Antelope also seemed fairly unconcerned with the presence of cars and people. We saw so many of these it became almost a nonissue when we spotted another one.

One of the neatest animals we spotted was a badger. It was peaking out of a hole when we turned a curve, and Dave spotted it. So, we stopped and turned off the truck--there wasn't much traffic--and just stayed there quietly until it came out again. We watched it throw dirt out of a hole. I'm sure it was after a prairie dog, because they were all making quite a ruckus.

Speaking of prairie dogs, I think they are the cutest. They are small and have a chunky butt that just wiggles when they run. In my dream backyard, the prairie dogs would go very well with my peacocks, you think? I wish I could take some of the squirrels from my yard and lop off their tail and throw them out here with some of their country cousins. Maybe they could learn something about being charming.

Prairie dogs are actually rodents, but they get their name because they yip like dogs. As we drove through a few prairie dog towns, you could see them as they stood up, popped in and out of holes, and yipped some more.

Most wouldn't stay still long enough to take a picture, but this one did. He just turned around and looked like, what do you want?

Several animals had babies around, which are always fun to see. Spring has arrived to the prairie and hills, and it was nice to see it.