Pebbles, 18-1/2, the eldest American bison at Buffalo Rock State Park, died around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon of natural causes. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Buffalo Rock State Park Site Superintendent Dan Bell said Pebbles couldn’t get up Tuesday morning.
“Tuesday morning we called in a veterinarian, and Pebbles was given an anti-inflammatory shot, hoping it would help her get up. She never did.”
Pebble’s right horn broke off about three or four years ago, leaving her a one-horned bison. Visitors seemed to love her, and Bell said Pebbles would be missed.
“She was our matriarch,” Bell said. “She was never a problem for us. We’ll just really miss her.”
Two remaining bison at the IDNR-managed park that sees anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 visitors a year. People can visit daily with Cocoa and her 3-year-old calf, Hope, born April 28, 2020.
Buffalo Rock State Park, 1300 N. 27th Road in Ottawa, has access to the I&M Canal State Trail. Visitors can hike, camp, picnic, and rent e-bikes.
For more information, visit https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.buffalorock.html.