This Video of a Baby Bison Will Have You Planning a Trip to South Dakota

While hundreds of years ago bison numbered in the tens of millions in North America, by the end of the 20th century their numbers were down to just over a thousand. Through conservation and breeding programs, there are nearly half a million on the continent, many of which you can see during a two-hour jeep safari at Custer State Park.

Spring is an especially good time to tour the park as in addition to baby bison, you’ll also see newborn elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. You’ll spot many of them while traversing the park’s 18-mile Wildlife Loop Scenic Byway. It’s also smack in the middle of South Dakota’s Black Hills, a short (by SoDak standards) drive to Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and the world’s greatest variety store at Wall Drug.

So even if you’re not into adorable baby animals, this spring might be an ideal time to go check them out. It’s a much more rewarding experience than going to the zoo, and as cute as this video is, it’s a far more impressive site in person.