Bardwell: Custer Park Wild Game Loop (Thursday)

Larry and I hadn't seen any bison and we were determined to find some today. We stopped at a point of interest with a short trail. As we returned from walking down the trail (not seeing any game) we saw a bison just strolling up the road toward our pickup. We jumped into the pickup and waited to see what happened. That bull kept getting closer and closer...Larry had his window rolled down and I was beginning to wonder if that bull was going to bring his head right up to Larry's window. He slowly turned when he was about 5 feet from the pickup and went to the prairie grass right in front of where we were parked. After rolling around, resting, and grazing for a while he finally began walking away. It amazed us how big he was. Larry thinks he was about 10 feet tall :)

Today, we saw all kinds of game--from bison and antelope to prairie dogs and wild donkeys. We left our Elk Park camp early so we could see more game. After this bison encounter, our next stop was the Mt. Coolidge Lookout (elev 6023). I couldn't believe there was a paved road all the way up to the lookout. Maybe that's why so many people were there. We passed by Legion Lake, the Game Lodge, the Wildlife Loop Road, and then returned to camp.

Did you know that bison can cause a traffic jam? We were about a mile from the Game Lodge when we ran into a whole herd of females and their babies (with a few bulls mixed in). As they decided to cross the road, traffic was backed up both directions as the bison took their time meandering back and forth across the road.

the wild donkeys go right up to the cars to get food

So Ty and Dee think Seattle traffic is bad?

twin calves

View from Mt. Coolidge Lookout

Another view from the lookout

After lunch we went to Hot Springs and went to the Mammoth Site. A group was working when we toured and said they had uncovered a new tusk a couple of days ago and a small piece of something late the day before.