Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Granite peaks and mixed-grass prairie in Oklahoma, where bison were reintroduced from the Bronx Zoo in 1907.
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The refuge was established in 1901 and covers around 24,000 hectares of granite hills rising out of the southern plains, the eroded remains of a range far older than the Rockies. In October 1907 fifteen bison arrived by rail from the Bronx Zoo, sent by the American Bison Society when the wild population had collapsed to a few hundred animals; the herd here descends from them and now numbers several hundred, alongside elk, Texas longhorn and the reintroduced black-tailed prairie dog. A road climbs Mount Scott to 751 metres with a view over the plains. The Charon's Garden Wilderness requires a permit and has boulder fields that are slow going. Feral hogs and drought are current management issues.
What you actually see
- A bison herd from fifteen animals - shipped from the Bronx Zoo in 1907.
- Granite hills older than the Rockies - eroded down to their cores.
- The Mount Scott road - to 751 metres over the plains.
- Elk, longhorn and prairie dogs - alongside the bison.
When to go
March to May and September to November. A full day.
Honest expectations
Bison are wild and dangerous - people are injured approaching them for photographs. Summer heat is heavy and shade is scarce. The Mount Scott road closes in bad weather. Wilderness access needs a permit.
Nearby
Lawton is east; the Texas border is south.
What to pack for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
