Easter — a happy fresh start of new life in the Badlands

Easter or Resurrection Sunday reminds us of “fresh starts” or “new life.”

That’s not a difficult concept to grasp in the Badlands. Traveling through the region, around Easter, we see plenty of proof of new life or fresh starts.

Scattered through the region, and certainly more toward Eastern Montana, the spring crop of lambs are particularly fascinating to watch. When we catch a flock with newborns, it’s worth a chuckle or two to stop and watch them scamper about.

Ranch Life

Ranchers are working hard this time of year, caring for and comforting newborn calves.

Cattle graze on the hillside. There are several calves in this photo. How many do you see?

Every herd you drive by this spring, you’ll see little ones mixed with their mothers on a hillside.

Mother cow nudges newborn calf.

At the Park

At the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, new life is apparent. We’ve not yet spotted a newborn calf, this year. But a year ago, we had one wander through our campsite.

And of course, the popular newborns in the park are the foals of the wild horse herds in the South Unit at Medora.

If you don’t get too close, you can get an amazing glimpse of this year’s new life in the horse herds.

One of the 2019 colts in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

One of our favorite photographers of the wild horses at the South Unit is Heather White. She spends a considerable amount of time following and photographing the wild horse herds. She is often rewarded with outstanding photographs. You can find her on Facebook, and it will be worth your time to browse her galleries of images.

How can you get a glimpse of this new life?

Take an easy drive through the South Unit. Of course, you’ll have to pay an entry fee. So, since you paid, you might as well get out of your car and walk a little. Then, you may find even more signs of new life such as crocuses.

Pasqueflowers Herald Spring in the Grasslands of Western North Dakota

A second idea is to drive the West River road. As the name implies, it’s the north-south road that follows the Little Missouri River. So, follow it north of Medora and it will lead you through ranch country where the newborn crop of calves, lambs, and colts will be visible.

If you get a good photo of one, be sure to share it with us on Facebook. We love to show off the Badlands on our Facebook Page.

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Mike Kopp

Love to tell stories -- romantic, nostalgic stories of our explorations in the Northern Plains. 15 years a television reporter/anchor, 12 years radio news director, 3 years newspaper editor, 6 years documentary producer -- a lifetime of communication.