The portion of the North Dakota badlands that is designated as Theodore Roosevelt National Park is home to a herd of free ranging bison (Bison bison) as well as elk, white-tailed and mule deer, feral horses (wild descendants of domestic stock), prairie dogs, coyotes and golden eagles.  The bison congregate in large herds only during the summer breeding season.  They spend much of this time on the prairie dog towns, so they are easy to observe from the road.  For the balance of the year, the adult bulls lead relatively solitary lives, and the cows and calves associate in smaller groups.  In 1998 Dr. Stockrahm and her student research team began survey work to help the park managers assess how the bison were utilizing the land in the park, and how current herd management practices were affecting herd composition and behavior.   Groups of bison are counted to determine the relative numbers of adults (bulls and cows), subadults (under three years old), and calves of both sexes.   During the July-August rut, data were also gathered for a quantitative assessment of breeding behavior.  (You may contact Dr. Stockrahm via Email.)

Stockrahm and a student scan the prairie plateau to find the herd.  It's only safe to view bison from a distance or from a car.

A herd of 25 bison rests at midday in the middle of the Peaceful Valley prairie dog town as a student records data.

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Updated by Aleen Kienholz on 8 June 03