Custer State Park: Difference between revisions

The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional {{convert|22900|acre|km2|0|sp=us}} were added to the park.<ref name=Thune/>

The park covers an area of over {{convert|71000|acre|km2|0|sp=us}} of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.<ref name=SDGFP>{{cite web| title =Custer State Park| url =http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/Regions/Custer/custersp.htm| accessdate =2007-10-18| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20071024190139/http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/Regions/Custer/custersp.htm| archivedate =2007-10-24}}</ref>

The park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming [[Plains bison|bison]].<ref name=SDGFP/> [[Elk]], [[coyote]]s, [[mule deer]], [[white tailed deer]], [[mountain goat]]s, [[prairie dog]]s, [[bighorn sheep]], [[North American river otter|river otter]]s, [[pronghorn]], [[North American cougar|cougar]]s, and [[feral]] [[donkey|burros]] also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives ([[Needles Highway]] and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and [[prairie dog]] towns. This park is easily accessible by road from [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]]. Other nearby attractions are [[Wind Cave National Park]], [[Mount Rushmore]], [[Jewel Cave National Monument]], [[Crazy Horse Memorial]], and [[Badlands National Park]].

 

== Annual bison roundup ==

The park has an annual bison roundup and auction in September, in which the bison in the park (more than 1,000) are rounded up, with several hundred sold at auction so that the remaining number of animals will be compatible with the rangeland forage.

 

The annual roundups began in 1965; more than 10,000 people now attend each one.<ref>{{cite news |work=Washington Post |date=September 23, 2012 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/organizers-more-than-10k-spectators-expected-at-annual-buffalo-roundup-in-custer-state-park/2012/09/23/aa03286e-05d2-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html |publisher=Associated Press|title=Organizers: More than 10K spectators expected at annual buffalo roundup in Custer State Park }}</ref>

 

==Museums==

 

==Begging Burros==

{{Unreferenced|section|date=August 2019}}

Begging Burros is a name used to refer to the [[donkey]]s in Custer State Park. For many years, these donkeys have earned this nickname as they approach various passing cars through the park [[Begging behavior in animals|begging]] for food. After earning this reputation, the burros have become famous, now garnering the attention of most travelers through the park inside and outside of cars. Many people bring food to the park specifically for the purpose of feeding these animals.