Now is Buffalo Birthing Time
March begins the bison birthing cycle and more than 450 bison will be born at the largest protected tallgrass prairie remnant left in the world, the Joseph H Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska.
And you and your family can view this and many more of nature’s wonders at no charge. The Preserve’s director, Harvey Payne recently told members of the Grove Rotary that the 39,000-acre reserve is open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
According to Payne, the Preserve was formed when The Nature Conservancy purchased the historic Barnard Ranch in 1989. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit group founded in 1951 which protects some of the most sensitive environmental eco-system throughout the world.
A scenic drive begins in Pawhuska and winds about 50 miles before ending back at the starting place.
Payne says the tallgrass prairie once extended from Canada to the Gulf Coast. About 10,000 years ago climate change turned the area into a forested landscape. Payne said that Native Americans used fire to clean the landscape creating the prairie on which American pioneers saw the 30 to 60 million buffalo as well as a wide variety of plants and wildlife.
As early as the 1930s efforts were made to protect the Tallgrass Prairie, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it seemed possible. The Preserve is home to more than 210 species of birds and wildlife from deer to beavers, woodchucks, bobcats and more. There are more than 750 species of prairie plants according to Payne.
Payne says ever season is a good time to visit the Preserve. Besides, the calving bison wildflowers will soon be blooming. Prairie chickens call out a sunrise as mating season begins.
Birdwatching is also encouraged and includes native and migrating species including the Dickcissel and Scissor-tailed flycatcher.
Grasses such as big bluestem and switchgrass begin to appear in April.
In the fall, the big bluestem and switchgrass reach heights of 6 to 8 feet and turn colors much like the trees.
Also in the fall is a bison roundup. About 300 bison placed on the Preserve in 1993 to help restore the balance between grasses and broadleaf plants. The bison diet is almost exclusively grasses. In order to keep the herd under control, each fall the bison are herded into pens for vaccinations and a general health check. Needless to say, they aren’t very cooperative. In addition, about 500 bison are sold each year.
Payne says it is an attempt to keep the herd to a reasonable size. Some are sold as breed stock and some for meat. The price in recent years has been from $1 to $4 a pound live weight.
The Preserve has an annual budget of about $1.2 million and relies on the sale along with donations and revenue from the Preserve’s gift shop and Visitor’s Center. Hiking trails are also available, but no pets are allowed and no campfires or overnight stays.
At the present time, the public restrooms and Visitor’s Center are closed due to public health concerns. Visit the Preserve website for the most up-to-date information (https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/tallgrass-prairie-preserve/).