3 burros feared dead in Custer State Park fire
Jimmy Nesbitt Journal staff
Dec 15, 2017
A band of burros make their way toward the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park in 2016
Officials at Custer State Park located its bison herd by Thursday afternoon, and every animal found so far was alive.
Custer State Park staff are concerned about the fate of three burros that are still unaccounted for following the Legion Lake Fire.
Six of the nine burros that live in the park had been found as of Thursday afternoon. "We will continue to look for the remainder of the burro herd, but at this time, it is believed they did not survive the extreme fire growth from Tuesday night," the park said in a Facebook post.
The park is still in the process of locating wildlife, and those efforts will likely continue for several weeks, said Kobee Stalder, visitor services program manager. All of the park's resources were initially used to fight the wildfire, which started Monday morning in the area of Wilson's Corner, one mile northeast of Legion Lake.
Fanned by high winds, the fire later spread beyond the park's boundaries. Investigators from the South Dakota Wildland Fire Division suspect a downed power line sparked the fire, which has grown to 53,875 acres, or 84 square miles. It's now 80 percent contained. The park remains closed.
The search for animals has primarily been confined to Wildlife Loop Road. The interior roads are still inaccessible because of the fire, Stalder said.
Officials located the park's bison herd by Thursday afternoon, and every animal found so far was alive, he said. Staff will conduct an "impromptu roundup" to assess the herd of roughly 860 bison and likely give them pneumonia immunizations because of the wildfire.
"Custer State Park is known for their herd of bison," Stalder said. "Every other question any time we post on social media is, you know, 'Are the bison OK?' 'Is the wildlife OK?' 'Are the burros OK?'"
The wildfire is the third-largest recorded in the Black Hills. There have been no human injuries, and main park buildings have been spared from the blaze, officials said. Well-wishers have posted online with concerns for firefighters but also for animals like the bison, the captivating national mammal.
There are nearly 400,000 bison in North America, many on private ranches and farms, according to the National Bison Association. Executive Director Dave Carter said there are as many as 20,000 buffalo in public herds, with Custer State Park's ranking among the larger ones in the U.S.
As firefighters have been able to hold the blaze — it's now 80 percent contained — park officials have been able to dedicate resources toward assessing wildlife and getting more information, Stalder said.
He said officials also have found the park's southern elk herd but are still searching for another group of elk and most of the pronghorn. Stalder said park staff plans to examine every herd in the park.
Becky Kienzle, a massage therapist from Dickeyville, Wis., said she's been following the fire this week and worrying about wildlife in the park. The 59-year-old has been to the last eight of the fall buffalo roundups, and Kienzle said she plans on going to the park again next year.
"I've been enjoying this park for my entire 50th decade," Kienzle said. "I'm praying for most of my animals to still be there."
Stalder said staff was able to go through early Tuesday and unlock the gates within the park boundary to allow animals to escape the fire.
"We went through and gave them the best opportunity to get out of the way of danger," he said. "They're naturally smart enough to do that."
Karen Conley, executive director of the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association, said the challenge will be wildlife including buffalo in the park having enough food sources to sustain them until regrowth occurs. She said the group has been inundated with offers to help from members of the "buffalo family."
Texas resident Rhonda Price Mokerski can't count the number of times she's been to Custer State Park. The 56-year-old outdoor product wholesaler who grew up in western South Dakota said she's been worried for people and wildlife.
"We are just always bringing people to the Black Hills to experience it," said Mokerski, whose favorite park animals are buffalo and burros. "One of the 'must dos' is to go through this park."
Jimmy Nesbitt Journal staff
Dec 15, 2017
A band of burros make their way toward the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park in 2016
Officials at Custer State Park located its bison herd by Thursday afternoon, and every animal found so far was alive.
Custer State Park staff are concerned about the fate of three burros that are still unaccounted for following the Legion Lake Fire.
Six of the nine burros that live in the park had been found as of Thursday afternoon. "We will continue to look for the remainder of the burro herd, but at this time, it is believed they did not survive the extreme fire growth from Tuesday night," the park said in a Facebook post.
The park is still in the process of locating wildlife, and those efforts will likely continue for several weeks, said Kobee Stalder, visitor services program manager. All of the park's resources were initially used to fight the wildfire, which started Monday morning in the area of Wilson's Corner, one mile northeast of Legion Lake.
Fanned by high winds, the fire later spread beyond the park's boundaries. Investigators from the South Dakota Wildland Fire Division suspect a downed power line sparked the fire, which has grown to 53,875 acres, or 84 square miles. It's now 80 percent contained. The park remains closed.
The search for animals has primarily been confined to Wildlife Loop Road. The interior roads are still inaccessible because of the fire, Stalder said.
Officials located the park's bison herd by Thursday afternoon, and every animal found so far was alive, he said. Staff will conduct an "impromptu roundup" to assess the herd of roughly 860 bison and likely give them pneumonia immunizations because of the wildfire.
"Custer State Park is known for their herd of bison," Stalder said. "Every other question any time we post on social media is, you know, 'Are the bison OK?' 'Is the wildlife OK?' 'Are the burros OK?'"
The wildfire is the third-largest recorded in the Black Hills. There have been no human injuries, and main park buildings have been spared from the blaze, officials said. Well-wishers have posted online with concerns for firefighters but also for animals like the bison, the captivating national mammal.
There are nearly 400,000 bison in North America, many on private ranches and farms, according to the National Bison Association. Executive Director Dave Carter said there are as many as 20,000 buffalo in public herds, with Custer State Park's ranking among the larger ones in the U.S.
As firefighters have been able to hold the blaze — it's now 80 percent contained — park officials have been able to dedicate resources toward assessing wildlife and getting more information, Stalder said.
He said officials also have found the park's southern elk herd but are still searching for another group of elk and most of the pronghorn. Stalder said park staff plans to examine every herd in the park.
Becky Kienzle, a massage therapist from Dickeyville, Wis., said she's been following the fire this week and worrying about wildlife in the park. The 59-year-old has been to the last eight of the fall buffalo roundups, and Kienzle said she plans on going to the park again next year.
"I've been enjoying this park for my entire 50th decade," Kienzle said. "I'm praying for most of my animals to still be there."
Stalder said staff was able to go through early Tuesday and unlock the gates within the park boundary to allow animals to escape the fire.
"We went through and gave them the best opportunity to get out of the way of danger," he said. "They're naturally smart enough to do that."
Karen Conley, executive director of the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association, said the challenge will be wildlife including buffalo in the park having enough food sources to sustain them until regrowth occurs. She said the group has been inundated with offers to help from members of the "buffalo family."
Texas resident Rhonda Price Mokerski can't count the number of times she's been to Custer State Park. The 56-year-old outdoor product wholesaler who grew up in western South Dakota said she's been worried for people and wildlife.
"We are just always bringing people to the Black Hills to experience it," said Mokerski, whose favorite park animals are buffalo and burros. "One of the 'must dos' is to go through this park."
