Learn About Bison Online with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Bison graze at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Photo by Rick Short

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie will present a virtual cross-country expedition to First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, in Ulm, Montana, on National Bison Day. There are more ways than ever to celebrate America’s national mammal, such as a digital map of local area “bison crawl” sites with in-person or virtual programs, including six libraries with interpretive spotlights.

From Montana, guests will virtually-visit the USDA Forest Service Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, in Great Falls, to hear about legendary explorers Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark and their ties to bison.

Midewin will host a virtual Cross-Country Bison Expedition from 11 a.m. to noon, November 7, to explain why there are bison helping to restore land where the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant once operated. Participants will be able to remotely track staff with the Forest Preserve District of Will County as they check in via mobile devices while looking for the bison herd along Route 66.

Among the sites along the Bison Crawl path, six local public libraries have temporary bison spotlight areas that feature library staff picks of books and activity sheets about bison, as well as replica items on loan from Midewin. There are replica jawbones with bison teeth, a mold of a bison hoof print and more. The six libraries are Aurora Public Library District on Eola Road; Joliet Public Library District on Black Road; Three Rivers Public Library District, in Channahon; White Oak Library District branches, in Crest Hill and Romeoville; and the Wilmington Public Library District.

For more information or to register, call 815-423-6370 or email [email protected]. View the map at Tinyurl.com/2020BisonCrawlMap.

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In-Print, Green Living Feature Eco Brief Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie November 2020 First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park National Bison Day USDA Montana USDA Forest Service Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Bison Crawl Aurora Public Library District Joliet Public Library District