The Nature Place Journal January 2014

Beautiful Extremes

By Jim Braswell, Show-Me Nature Photography

    Just outside the small town of Wall, South Dakota, lies a wonderful little place that is one of those “four season” places to visit. It can get awfully hot in the summer there, and miserably cold in the winter. But no matter what the season, and no matter what the weather conjures up, the Badlands is always a wonderful place to visit.
   The Badlands became a national monument in 1939. Then, in 1976, the government annexed the undeveloped “South Unit” into its boundaries, growing the area to 244,300 acres. On November 10, 1978, this rough terrain once feared by early pioneers traveling westward, was officially established as one of our National Parks.
   The Badlands is a geological masterpiece, naturally sculpted over eons into fantastic, high-rise pinnacles, with lots of contrasting deep gullies carved by the forces of water. Some visitors may consider the Badlands as barren and “dead,” but I assure you that nothing is further from the truth. All one has to do is exit his vehicle and walk a short distance in any direction to see the abundant plant and wildlife flourishing there.
   In late spring, fields of beautiful wildflowers, shown above, seem to compete with the breath-taking rock structures for attention. Visiting the Badlands in late spring offers gratifying fulfillment. It is an awesome experience to watch newborn Bighorn Sheep lambs frolicking along the rock peaks and ledges, as they seemingly play the childhood game of “tag,” with no apparent fear of the steep walls of the rock mountains that comprise their playground. Bighorn Sheep lambs frolicking along the rock peaks and ledges.I have to admit that my only trip to the Badlands in summer was short-lived. Though I passed through it on a single hot August day, it was enough to satisfy my need for a “Badlands fix”. Temperatures that day were exceedingly hot, well over 100F, so my short visit turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If you can handle the heat, the Badlands is a beautiful place in the summer.
   Fall brings great opportunities for visitors. In November, the Bighorn Sheep rams, are busy courting ewes in the annual rut (the rut is a term used for the mating season for mammals). During the rest of the year, the rams stay together in small groups, away from the main park roads, and so are usually not seen. But when the rut begins, they seem to be everywhere along the park roads, sometimes causing “sheep jams” that slow down traffic. The sheep are nicely groomed this time of year, as their winter coats are fully grown.

  Bison are also quite abundant on the prairies of the Badlands. Fall is an excellent time to find them, either involved with the rut, or grazing on the snow-covered prairies. Bison You may be surprised, but my favorite season in the Badlands is winter! Winter can be extremely cold in the Badlands. There always seems to be a brisk wind whistling around every corner and turn, making it feel even colder. But even with the harsh winter in place, wildlife can still be seen, including some lesser-known and unexpected species.
   On one winter trip, as I rounded the north park road I saw a very strange bird nest wedged one of the few trees lining the road. Being a biologist by education and a nature photographer by occupation, I just had to go back and try to figure out what kind of bird made that odd nest. As I approached the nest, I was utterly surprised that this gaggle of prickly material was actually a porcupine nestled in the fork of some branches, shown below, riding out the winter chill. I quickly clicked off a few photos before leaving this living “nest” to his tranquility.
   Winter is also a great time to view the awesome landscapes. These vistas are nice any time of the year, but they really come alive with a covering of fresh snow.
   I hope you’ll consider visiting the Badlands, where any season can be—and almost always is—a rewarding experience. The Badlands aren’t that bad at all.

Jim Braswell, Professional Nature Photographer website: www.showmenaturephotography.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShowMeNature