Home on the (Bison) Range (Missoula, Montana Post)

As we were driving through, we stopped at the National Bison Range.  We were advised to visit by a couple on the shuttle in Glacier National Park.  This settled the Bison/Buffalo debate between Karen and me.  (I was right, despite what she says.) We have bison in this country, where as a buffalo refers to the Cape Buffalo of Africa, or the Water Buffalo from Asia.  However, the terms "bison" and "buffalo" have been used interchangeably in the United States to refer to the bison.  It can also be noted that the only other bison exists in small numbers in European reserves and is called the wisent.  

The newest exhibit at the bison range, a pet on a leash.  Strange... it looks a bit like Timber...

The rusty brown colored bison in the center is a calf.  Bison calves are a rusty brown for the first two months.  

The bison calves and the mothers (cows)

Other creatures inhabit the bison range such as birds, deer, and Timber's personal favorite, the Pronghorn Antelope.  

The valley was the former home of a giant glacial lake, and quite a bit of the bison range would have been underwater.

The view from the highest point of the bison range.  

Dad is "King of the Bison Range".

Timber spies, with her little doggie eyes: a bison!

A fawn in the flowers...

...The mother is nearby, watching...

We are spending the rest of the day driving, and have just stopped to let Timber stretch her legs.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Medora, North Dakota Post)

Welcome to Theodore Roosevelt National Park!  This park was founded in 1947.  Shortly after Roosevelt's death, it was decided to honor this great man and conservationist.  Many ideas were bounced around, but turning the area where he gained his conservationist ideas during his cattle-ranching days into a national park was eventually chosen.  The park is home to many diverse wildlife species and landforms.  

The Painted Canyon and North Dakota Badlands

Buffalo (latin name bison bison) strolling down the road past our RV.  

Something interesting about the rock: even though it looks almost sandlike, its actually very hard, well, like a rock...

The local wildlife looks rather friendly.  

Wild horses on the hill.  

Dad in front of the badlands.  

Views so pretty even a dog can enjoy them!

Bison grazing.  Can you spot the babies lying down?

We went on a trail ride around the park.  It was amazing to see the park from that perspective, because you were down in the valleys and on the hills with the wildlife.  The horse I rode was named Rascal, Karen was mounted on Stormy, Dad rode Dude, and Mom rode Tigger.  The horses were really well behaved and quite calm.  It was really a fun way to spend the afternoon.

We are staying in Medora again tonight, and are planning to hike out to the Petrified Forest in the park. That should lead to some interesting photos in tomorrow's post!