American Bison

Yes...a small herd of American Bison aka Buffalo...call  Paynes Prairie State Preserve here in Gainesville, Florida...home. Approximately 10 or so of them roam the Prairie and are occasionally seen by folks visiting the Park. Bison were here when the Spanish arrived in 1513 but were gone by the late 1800s. They were reintroduced in 1975. By 2011 the herd numbered around 70 individuals, public safety concerns were mounting and inbreeding was becoming an issue. It was finally decided to reduce the herd to females, calves and sterilized young males. The animals that were culled were sent to animal sanctuaries. The herd now consists of  a 8-10 member 'target population'. Lately, because of drought conditions, water in the Prairie is at a very low level and the bison have been coming closer to places like the La Chua Trail  because of the availability of water there. I took this photo as I walked along the La Chua this morning. If you'd like to see a large Alligator and a couple of shots of Sandhill Cranes on the Wing...Fly over to My Flickr Page.

There's Magic in Everything...if you look closely enough!