Theodore Roosevelt National Park guide · 1 min read
Bison Battles, Feral Horses, and Elk
Bison herds roam the grasslands and badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The North Unit Scenic Drive passes through the Little Missouri badlands, where bison and bighorn sheep feed on the prairie and along cliff edges.
Stay in your vehicle on the drive to watch them from a comfortable distance.
Summer is the rut for bison, when bull bison clash for the right to breed. Keep at least 75 feet between yourself and bison, elk, or bighorn sheep, and give predators double that space. Harassing or feeding wildlife is against the law.
Feral horses roam the park alongside the bison, and they are sometimes called mustangs. A seven-foot woven wire fence encloses the park to keep horses and bison inside. Park officials manage the populations of bison, horses, and elk to keep the ecosystem in balance.
Elk were reintroduced to the park, and in autumn you may hear bull elk bugling across the badlands. Grasses here support a wide range of grazers, including bison, elk, pronghorn, mule and white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, and feral horses.
Thousands of prairie dogs make their home in the South Unit, and you can spot their towns from several stretches of the main park road. Land that has been grazed or disturbed becomes prime habitat for prairie dogs, which draw burrowing owls and prairie rattlesnakes. Golden eagles sometimes fly overhead while you watch.
