Utah has an amazing array of natural wonders, almost everyone knows that. But there is one place, not far from Salt Lake City, that stands apart from the rest. Antelope Island State Park is situated on the southeast corner of the Great Salt Lake. It encompasses about 42 square miles and is a mecca for wildlife and birds.
There is a nice sized herd of bison here that are relatively easy to find on most visits. Twelve animals were brought to the island in 1893 and were the foundation for today’s herd of 550 – 700. The Antelope Island bison herd is significant because it is one of the largest and oldest publicly owned bison herds in the nation.
At one time of course, bison were found all across the great plains. Numbering in the millions, they were quite possibly the most abundant large land animal found on earth. But they were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800’s.
In this image, three bison leisurely graze along a north facing ridge and behind them lies a small portion of the Great Salt Lake.