Peoria County (IL) is celebrating its bicentennial from 1825 to 2025. As part of the festivities, decorated bison sculptures can be found around town. You can check out these bison here: https://www.peoriacounty.gov/1314/Bicentennial-Celebration.
Bison were an important species for maintaining the prairie ecosystem. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in Illinois due to overhunting and habitat destruction.
However, populations of bison are being reestablished , including the herd at the Prairie View Wildlife Park. The park took part in the bison-tennial, creating a bison sculpture named Buddy. Buddy features scenes of Native Americans of the Peoria Nation and early settlers, and is also adorned with local animals.
The Sacred White Bison
The bison herd can be observed from several locations. I was surprised by the four white bison. I’d heard that white bison were considered sacred in some societies. I wondered if the park had been contacted about them, and research discovered that, yes, they had been.
The Seven Circles Heritage Center performed a Bison Blessing and Spring Wake Up! when the first pair of white bison, male Tatanka and female Lakota, were introduced to the herd. The pair had been kept as pets until the owner needed to rehome their animals.
Leucism vs. Albinism
The white bison at Prairie View Wildlife Park are leucistic, not albino.
- Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation. They have white fur, but their eyes, nose, and hooves retain some color.
- Albino animals usually have pink eyes.
White bison are rare, accounting for just one in every 1 million births.
Notice the white cow bison has a normal brown-colored calf. The usual brown bison were magnificent as well.
The park offers lodging beside the 80-acre paddock where the bison live. I might have to try it someday. Imagine seeing moonlight illuminating the bison, with the white bison glowing in the beams.
Discover More Amazing Animals!
If you love learning about the importance of animals in their ecosystems, you might enjoy my book Don’t Make Me Rattle, which shares fascinating facts about the rattlesnake and its role in the Sonoran Desert.