Bear Country USA

After leaving Crazy Horse Memorial, we headed to Rapid City (in South Dakota), but stopped in at “Bear Country USA”. This is a unique drive through a Wildlife Park where tourists can see Black and Grizzly Bears, Mountain Lions, Wolves, Elk, Reindeer, Buffalo and heaps more wildlife.

Bear Country USA Wildlife Park

Everyone at the Wildlife Park

The following show pictures of the wild animals we saw in the Park. There were signs everwhere warning people not to wind down windows or disembark from their vehicles. We had great fun winding throughout the park looking at animals we hadn’t managed to see in the wild (at this stage!).

An elk lying peacefully in the shade.

Reindeer asserting his authority over younger males

A family of Arctic Wolves

White tailed deer

Bighorn Sheep

Inquisitive Baby Bighorn sheep

By far the most exciting part of the park was the bears. They seemed to all have their own little character and did some funny antics like sitting like a human and walking in front of the cars patrolling the exit.

Black Bear (even though it's brown!)

Another Black Bear

Bear patrolling the area.

Sitting, enjoying the sunshine!

After driving through the Wildlife Park, we parked and walked around the second area which included a gift shop. The main attractions here were the baby bears (now 8 months old) and the Grizzly Bears.

A shy Coyote

A very curious baby Bear!

Watching the animals in their man-made habitat.

A disinterested Grizzly Bear

Look! Two more Grizzlies! Oh......My mistake!

Akaisha with a statue of the Founder of the Park.

On our way to finding a nice place to eat lunch, we happened upon part of the set for the movie “Dances With Wolves”, starring Kevin Costner.

Part of the set of "Dances With Wolves"

Now a tourist attraction

After leaving the Wildlife Park, we found a place to stop for lunch. Being around so many wild animals earlier must have rubbed off on the kids. Follow us on our next blog post where we end up in Custer State Park……..

Jai climbing like a bear!

Flynn acting like a squirrel.

Akaisha playing like a Bear Cub!