Refuge

This is an American Bison standing in the Great Salt Lake. What the heck is he doing there, you ask? Antelope Island State Park encompasses the largest island in the lake and is host to several unlikely large mammal species.

Prior to the turn of the 20th century, this place was used extensively for ranching. A conservationist who had purchased several dozen Bison in an effort to save them from extinction propositioned the island's ranchers to house the large animals, so that they might find sanctuary from their steady annihilation on the Great Plains. The program was very successful, prompting more conservation-oriented releases in the early 1990's. Herds of Pronghorn Antelope and Desert Bighorn Sheep were let loose, and also fare well in this very stable protected environment.

Other large mammals that roam the island include mule deer, coyote, and bobcat--all of which I saw (along with the antelope and bison) in less than 20 minutes of hiking around on the deserted trails.

Another thing I find very interesting about Antelope Island: its small mountain complex is made of some of the oldest rocks known to exist on the planet, aged at 2.7 billion years old! This is older than the rocks found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I had no idea rocks that ancient were still around, and right here in Utah!

This is definitely a place worth checking out.