See Bison Up Close At The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

There’s nothing like seeing Oklahoma’s majestic creatures out in the natural surroundings, and if you love animals, you’ll definitely want to visit Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Take a look at what this beautiful place has to offer visitors:

60 million Bison once roamed the prairie, but hunting just about drove these beautiful animals to extinction. By 1900, only about 500 bison were left. In a last-ditch effort to save these magnificent creatures, 15 were sent from New York to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

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Today, the herd includes more than 650 healthy, thriving animals, and you can visit the refuge to see them. It’s open seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset, and there’s no admission charge to visit.

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The bison herd is carefully managed to maintain a healthy population.

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Every spring, visitors are treated to the sight of bison calves. Is there anything more adorable than a baby bison?

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Bison aren’t the only creatures to call this place home. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge covers about 59,020 acres, and hundreds of species of animals live here.

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During your visit, you might see elk…

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…coyotes…

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…and many other species, including prairie dogs, river otters, beavers, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and more.

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The bison who live here are wild animals, and you’ll want to give them plenty of space when you visit.

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Bring your camera to get a look at these incredible creatures!

Larry Smith/flickr Stop by the Visitor Center to see get more information.

Check out the refuge’s website for more details. If you love seeing Oklahoma’s beautiful natural surroundings, you might want to go on this ten mile trail that takes you through forests, grasslands, and wetland.

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Stop by the Visitor Center to see get more information.

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