As summer temperatures rise, our bison and elk at LC Nature Park have a few clever ways to stay cool, some of which might surprise you. One of the most iconic behaviors you might observe from our bison is wallowing: rolling, wriggling, and flopping around in the dirt. While it may look like simple playtime, wallowing serves multiple important purposes. It helps the bison shed their winter coats, relieve skin irritation, and ward off pesky insects. During mating season, or rut, males even use wallows to advertise their strength by urinating in them before rolling around, like a dusty declaration of dominance.
Wallowing also creates physical changes in the landscape. As bison repeatedly use the same spots, they form shallow bowl-shaped depressions in the earth called “wallows.” These features become microhabitats, places where water can pool after a rain, or where new plants might sprout in the disturbed soil. While a single wallow may have less plant diversity than the surrounding prairie, across the landscape, they add to the ecological variety, supporting both wildlife and vegetation that thrive in moist or compacted soil.
Beyond their dust baths, bison also take advantage of the natural cooling properties of the ground. With less hair on their bellies, they often lie down on bare soil during the hottest parts of the day. Much like a dog sprawled on a tile floor, bison instinctively seek out cooler surfaces to beat the heat. Their thick coats may help protect them in winter, but in summer, they rely on these simple, ancient behaviors to stay comfortable under the sun.
Elk, on the other hand, are more likely to head for water. While they occasionally wallow, the elk at LC Nature Park tend to prefer a refreshing dip in the pond. Swimming not only cools them off, but also helps remove ticks, flies, and other parasites. You’re also likely to find them resting in the shade of the forest during warm afternoons, where the canopy provides shelter from the sun. Whether rolling, wading, or lying low, both species are well adapted to the rhythms of summer life on the prairie.