Buffalo Gap National Grassland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo Gap National Grassland |
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 Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Location in South Dakota
Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Location in the United States
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| Location | South Dakota, United States |
| Nearest city | Hot Springs, SD |
| Area | 595,715 acres (2,410.77 km2) |
| Established | June 23, 1960 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Buffalo Gap National Grassland |
Buffalo Gap National Grassland is a huge area of land in southwestern South Dakota, United States. It's like a giant outdoor classroom where you can learn about nature and history! It is the second largest National Grassland in the country. This special place has a mix of grassy plains, called prairie, and unique chalky hills, known as badlands. The United States Forest Service takes care of it.
The grassland is managed by the Forest Service. It is part of the Nebraska National Forest. Buffalo Gap National Grassland covers parts of Fall River, Pennington, Jackson, and Custer counties.
The Forest Service manages Buffalo Gap National Grassland from offices in Chadron, Nebraska. They also manage the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests. Plus, they look after the Fort Pierre and Oglala National Grasslands. You can find local ranger offices in Hot Springs and Wall. This grassland also surrounds Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
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Bringing Back the Black-footed Ferret
The Buffalo Gap National Grassland is home to a very special animal. This animal is the Black-footed ferret. These ferrets were once almost gone from the wild. But thanks to a special program, they are coming back!
The Conata Basin area of the grassland is where this program has been most successful. The U.S. government has worked hard to bring these ferrets back. Now, a small but healthy group of black-footed ferrets lives here. This is a big win for wildlife conservation!
Protecting the Land for the Future
In 2010, a senator named Tim Johnson wanted to protect more of this land. He introduced a special plan called the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act. This plan suggested making over 48,000 acres (about 19,400 hectares) of the grassland a protected wilderness area.
If this plan became law, it would create the first national grassland wilderness in the country. It would still allow important activities like grazing for animals and hunting. This helps keep the land healthy and useful for everyone.
National Grasslands Visitor Center
The National Grasslands Visitor Center is a great place to learn more. It is located in Wall, South Dakota. This center is part of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland – Wall Ranger District.
Inside the center, you can see cool exhibits. These exhibits teach you about the animals and plants that live in the grasslands. You can also learn about how the land is managed for grazing. There are exhibits about the history of the Great Plains too. The center has a theater where you can watch a video about the grasslands. There are also restrooms and a gift shop.
Images for kids
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A view of the wide-open spaces in Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
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Another scenic view of the grassland.
