Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Bison Viewing

Respect the animals and their home.
Picture
Safety
For bison safety and your safety, remember:
  • Stay 100 feet from the bison at all times, even when separated by a fence.
  • No admittance to the North or South Bison Units by foot or vehicle.
  • Use the provided pull-offs to view the herd and turn on your car's hazard flashers!
  • Do not stop on the road. Pull off!
  • Close the car doors when you exit your vehicle.
  • Cows are extremely protective of the calves & defend them at all costs.
  • Bison can quickly accelerate to 30+ miles per hour and jump 6 feet vertically.
  • When a bison's tail begins to raise, it is stressed and agitated.
Picture

Picture
Calves Are Born in April-June
  • Cows usually go off by themselves and give birth in an area with vegetation cover.
  • Calves weigh about 50 pounds at birth.
  • The calves are born with a rusty, orange coat.
  • The earlier they are born, the better chance of survival. Those born earlier in spring grow into larger and more dominant adults.
  • Calves are able to move with the herd within just a few hours after birth.​
  • Calves run around and play hard . . . then power nap.
  • Calves nurse for about 7 months and sometimes longer.
  • Calves are weaned in about one year.

Where to See Bison at Nachusa
  • From the Visitor Center, look out across the prairie.
  • Look west into the bison unit from Lowden Road.
  • Look north from Naylor Road.
  • Look north and south from Stone Barn Road.
  • The bison roam across 1,500 acres of rolling land in no particular pattern, at no predictable time, and are often not visible from the Visitor Center or roadsides.
  • More on Nachusa Grasslands' bison herd

Unless accompanied by a trained volunteer or staff member, no one can enter the bison unit on foot or drive into the bison unit.
Picture
"Bison Babies Broadcasts" YouTube Videos
Bison Calving
Bison Viewing
Bison Research

Please note that the fundraising campaign has ended, and the photo gifts are no longer available.
UPDATED 12/2021

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Map & Directions

8772 S. Lowden Road  (mailing address)            
2075 Lowden Road (Visitor Center)           
Franklin Grove, IL 61031

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© 2025 FRIENDS OF NACHUSA GRASSLANDS The content on this website is owned by us and our licensors. Do not copy any content (including images) without our consent.
  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2024
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Guided Hikes
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie >
      • Yearly Festival
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Workday Email List
    • Volunteer Recognition
    • Docents
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Weed Reports
    • Native plant resources
    • Volunteer Stewards
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Resource Links
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2025
    • 2025 Science Symposium Abstracts
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2025
      • Science Grants 2021 to 2024 >
        • Science Grants 2024
        • Science Grants 2023
        • Science Grants 2022
        • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2016 to 2020 >
        • Science Grants 2020
        • Science Grants 2019
        • Science Grants 2018
        • Science Grants 2017
        • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2011 to 2015 >
        • Science Grants 2015
        • Science Grants 2014
        • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Anderson Science Award
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Nachusa Staff
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • Websites of Interest
  • Teacher Resources
    • K-2nd grades
    • 3rd-5th grades
    • 6th-8th grades
    • High School
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs