Moon Walk Features The Nature Conservancy’s Bison Project

Rapid City, SD—September, 1, 2006—Join the Black Hills National Forest and The Nature Conservancy on Saturday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. for a scenic hike near Lame Johnny Creek south of Hermosa. This 3/4-mile roundtrip uphill walk through a grassy pasture will feature The Nature Conservancy’s bison restoration project.

Moon Walk speakers Dan Roddy, biologist with Wind Cave National Park, and Bob Paulson, Black Hills Area Program Director with The Nature Conservancy will explain their partnership in expanding and preserving pure bison herds in western South Dakota.

“The bison restoration project is part of our new initiative that includes bison as a land management tool on native prairie ecosystems,” said Paulson. “Last year The Nature Conservancy became one of only two conservation groups allowed to acquire bison from Wind Cave National Park.”

Roddy explains that the Wind Cave herd started in 1913 descended from the original Plains bison herds and has remained one of 3 genetically pure, disease-free bison herds in the United States. An additional guest speaker, Dick Kettlewell, wildlife photographer and journalist with the Rapid City Journal will discuss his monthly outdoors feature called A Stretch of Prairie.

“Native prairie wildlife are abundant in this area and visitors will probably hear and see elk, turkeys and coyotes that evening,” says Amy Ballard, Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk coordinator. This Moon Walk will provide something for everyone and families are encouraged to attend. Please do not bring your dogs to this Moon Walk, as they may disturb the bison and other wildlife.

To reach the Moon Walk site, travel south of Rapid City, SD on Highway 79 approximately 32 miles to Lame Johnny Creek Road (Custer County Road 16). Turn west or right at the gravel pit and travel 3.7 miles on a gravel road to the parking area. Parking will be in the mowed area in front of the ranch house. The drive from Rapid City should take approximately 45 minutes. From the bison corrals in Custer State Park off the Wildlife Loop Road travel approximately 1 mile east on Lame Johnny Creek Road (Custer County Road 16) to the parking area. Signs will mark the gravel road portion of the route.

Amy Ballard, Moon Walk coordinator for the Black Hills National Forest, reminds visitors to complete the Moon Walk puzzle to be eligible for a free T-shirt that night. Puzzles are available on the Forest website and at Forest offices. Visitors should dress for unexpected weather and cooler nighttime temperatures. An average of 200 visitors per walk have been attending the programs this summer, so please arrive early to park your vehicle.

For more information on this bison project visit The Nature Conservancy on the web at nature.org. If you would like to be placed on an internet mailing list to receive the Moon Walk news releases and directions please call the U.S. Forest Service at (605) 343-1567 or go to www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.