Today we explored the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands, Medora, North Dakota.
Just a little history how this National Park came to be...
Roosevelt first came to the badlands in September 1883. By spending time in the Dakota Territory, he became alarmed by the damage that was being done to the land and it's wildlife. He witnessed the destruction of some big game species. Over-grazing destroyed the grasslands and with them the habitats for small mammals and songbirds.
Conservation increasingly became one if Roosevelt's major concerns. When he became President in 1901, Roosevelt pursued this interest in natural history by establishing the U.S. Forest Service and by signing the 1906 Antiquities Act under which he proclaimed 18 national monuments. He also got Congressional approval for the establishment of five national parks and 51 wildlife refuges and set aside land as national forests.
As a conservationist, Theodore Roosevelt was a major figure in American history. Here in the North Dakota badlands, where many of his personal concerns first gave rise to his later environmental efforts, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that honors the memory of this great conservationist.
Please enjoy the magnificent pictures of this park.
As we began our trip through the park we saw this cliff and the next picture will show an up close view if the rock formation on it. It looks like a frog.
Black-tailed prairie dog. Several more pictures of them below. They named these areas - Prairie Dog Town and there were several areas throughout the park.
These are prairie dog holes (homes).
As we started around this bend in the road I asked Carp if he would stop so that I could capture this picture. As he pulled the car over in the section to the right I was ready to get out of the car & Carp said "Jean" in an urgent voice. I looked back to the right & this is what was about five feet away from me...
Yes, this is a live bison looking at us. Needless to say, I did not get out of the car for the previous picture.
Here is a picture of my buddy as we drive away.
The sites only get better from here.
The bison roams freely throughout the park. We never know what was around each turn & there were more bison as we moved on.
This guy was out for a walk. They look a bit mangie. The fur seems to be peeling off of them.
Looks like a cave in the mountain.
The colors in this mountain were so beautiful. Blues, purples & rust colors.
The rock formations were amazing.
These look like pyramids.
These pictures do not do justice to these beautiful mountains.
Scotia Point Overlook.
Badlands Overlook.
We saw some wild horses in the park as well.
Amazing that these are natural formations.
The colors were fantastic.
Yet another bison. This guy was jogging down the street.
We did see a deer cross the road as well, however, she was too quick for me to get a picture.
This "hill" as the owner of the campground called it is the backdrop of our space in the campground. The next picture is the view from our dining area.
Enjoy!
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