Winter’s warm sun put this Bison to sleep! — Saturday Snapshot

A dozing bison bull basks in the December sun on a west-facing hillside.

Bison Snoozing

Warm December days are few and far between in North Dakota. When the temperatures are above zero degrees, we feel gleeful. When temperatures are above 40 degrees, we get out and move around! That means explore and adventure for us, and one of our favorite places to do that is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. Just minutes off of Interstate 94, the south unit of the park, it’s adjacent to the cozy little cowboy town of Medora and gives quick access into he heart of the rugged badlands! Paved roads in the park make it a drive we take no matter the weather.

A dozing bison bull basks in the December sun on a west-facing hillside.

On this sunny afternoon we spied this Big Guy, lounging in the sun on a west facing ledge of a tall butte. He barely opened his eyes to look at us as we drove past. He was the definition of Contentment on a warm winter day!

Our visit to the park was successful. Not only did we encounter lots of wild life, we timed our hike perfectly to catch the golden hour, and the blue hour! Read about that soon!

Join us on another badlands winter adventure here: This Deep Canyon in the Badlands May Surprise You!

See more Beautiful Badlands photo here: Is This Really North Dakota?

Where should we go next? We’d love to hear your suggestions! Where Should We Go Next?

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.