Dunn Ranch Prairie -courtesy photo
BETHANY, Mo. (AP) — A northwest Missouri nature preserve has added 30 bison to its existing herd of more than 70 that helps keep the native prairie healthy.
The Nature Conservancy’s Dunn Ranch Prairie is about 90 minutes north of Kansas City. Bison and prescribed fires are used to manage grassland at the 4,200-acre ranch, which has more than 300 native wildflower species. It’s also a nesting ground for greater prairie chickens and other birds.
The ranch is a research hub for scientists from a variety of fields and is open to the public for hiking and bird-watching.
The bison released there last week came from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota and have never been crossbred with cattle.
The Conservancy has been managing bison for more than 25 years.