Bob the Rubber Duck here, ready to roam the prairies with the Prairie Bison!
Jim’s BOBortunity takes us about 3.5 hours from Winnipeg to Riding Mountain National Park.
That’s where bison roam the Lake Audy enclosure.
This special entry earned Jim the Week 40 win in our Get Your BOB On contest.
Moreover, it’s a great excuse to discover one of Manitoba’s most iconic animals.
Not only is the Bison Manitoba’s official mammal, but it’s also one of the largest land mammals in North America.
The moose is generally thought to be larger, but it is all about perspective.
The moose towers over the bison by almost a foot at 7 feet tall!
But the bison typically outweighs the moose by over 30 percent at up to 2200 pounds.
Either way, I wouldn’t want to have to tackle either of these giants.
Bison once roamed widely across this region.
By the late 1800s, hunting had brought Manitoba’s plains bison to the brink of extinction.
Riding Mountain’s herd faced a setback, too. In 1931, 20 bison brought to the park had to be destroyed after bovine tuberculosis was discovered.
The herd got a fresh start in the 1940s, when Parks Canada brought 10 bison from Elk Island National Park.
Today’s bison are descendants of those prairie pioneers.
At Lake Audy, the herd roams an approximately 500-hectare fenced prairie enclosure, divided into summer and winter pastures.
The grassland can support about 35 to 40 bison without being damaged.
Therefore, the herd’s size is carefully managed.
That balance helps protect the prairie habitat.
At the same time, it gives visitors a chance to see these impressive animals in their home turf.
Want to explore? Follow the loop road through the enclosure and keep your eyes peeled from inside your vehicle.
Stop at the display area to learn about bison and the park’s conservation work. In addition, take in the native prairie scenery.
Bison sightings aren’t guaranteed, so be patient: this is their prairie, and they set the schedule!
One important note from Bob: bison are wild animals, even behind a fence.
Bison are super speedy and can run at 35 miles per hour!
And that fence? Although it’s unlikely, these prairie giants can leap up to 6 feet in the air.
Stay in your vehicle, keep your distance, and never feed or approach these fluffy cows.
Who knew a drive through Riding Mountain could lead to a remarkable conservation story and a chance to meet a herd that’s made the prairie its own?
Thank you, Jim, for sharing this BOBortunity!
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