March -- Custer State Park Wildlife Loop

A Nice March Day, by Louise:  It's a nice March day in South Dakota.  "Let's head for the Wildlife Loop," Brian suggests.

"Yay!" I agree, enthusiastically. And off we go on one of our favorite roads -- a road for all seasons.  We turn off SD HWY 79 just south of Hermosa onto SD HWY 36.  Then SD HWY 36 follows Grace Coolidge creek to the east entrance of Custer State Park.  A few more miles and we turn south on the eighteen-mile Wildlife Loop.

Custer State Park is home to 1,300 free-ranging bison; we always see them on the Wildlife Loop.  

Bison on the Hill

Bison Forage in a Draw

Cottontail in Prairie Dog Town

Prairie Dog Looks for Terrstrial Predators

Prairie Dog Looks for Aerial Predators

Bison Slakes Thirst in a Mud Puddle

Water Hole Before Spring Rain

In addition, the Loop hosts a bluebird trail near the airport -- nesting boxes specifically for these most beautiful of birds.

Early Arrival Mountain Bluebird on a Rock

Grazing Discussion Crop

And the flowers bloom from spring to fall.  And the views of the edge of the prairie to the east and the Black Hills to the west are wide and long.  Each trip brings something new.

Bone of Winter Past

Wild Turkey Tracks in the Spring Snow

Turkey at Legion Lake

Juvenile Antelope Sparring

Antelope Buck Dozes in Afternoon Sun

Antelope Buck Pair

The gravel side roads offer even more intimate views of the Park's geology, botany, and wildlife. We make a nice long loop, following the Wildlife Loop to SD HWY 87, winding along SD HWY 89 past Mt Coolidge to east US HWY 16A and then back to SD HWY 36.  

Center Lake Outcrop

Valley and Cliffs

It's "brown spring" now -- but the wildlife is starting to stir from a long winter.   You can follow another link to more "brown spring" photos from a month later.  Here's an additional post for April that includes some shots of mountain sheep -- post for April.

Lakota Lake and Rocks

 "Green" spring will soon follow.  But for now, it's dry brown grass and catch a few moments in the spring sun.

Hillside Bur Oak Awaits Spring