Though it may not seem like it, Minnesota was once home to thousands of American bison. Sadly, these animals were hunted to near extinction as the animal’s natural habitat became more populated. However, there are still a few places in the United States where you can see wild bison roam. In Minnesota, that magical place is Minneopa State Park. Take a look:

Minneopa State Park is a central Minnesota spot popular for those traveling around the Mankato area. You'll find it at 54497 Gadwall Rd., Mankato, MN 56001.
Tony Webster/Flickr
The park is most popular for its beautiful waterfall. Minneopa Creek runs over a sandstone cliff into a deep gorge.
Dale Bohlke/Flickr
Visitors gather at the picturesque waterfall bridge. They also hike down to the bottom for an up-close view.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Another, lesser known part of the park is the section of hundreds of acres of prairie.
Iain/Flickr

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It is here that you can see Minnesota's wild bison herd. It's small, but the state hopes to continue growing the herd to reintroduce bison to the state.
Iain/Flickr
In 2016, a breeder bull was introduced to the herd with the hopes of growing the population.
Dale Bohlke/Flickr
It will be a long road to bring the bison population bak to what it was 200 years ago. But with steady progress, it may be possible.
Lorie Shaull/Flickr
Visitors can drive through the prairie section of Minneopa State Park to see the bison herd as it roams through tall grasses. It's a sight quite unlike anything else you'll see in Minnesota.
Laura GuNova/Google

Have you been to Minneopa State Park? Did you see the bison herd? If you’d like to see more wild animals in Minnesota, check out our article about the world’s largest black bear sanctuary in Minnesota.

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