The annual Buffalo Day celebration is today (Saturday) at the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City. Park Ranger Gary Shea says the event celebrates the importance the buffalo once carried. He says they’ve invited the Meskwaki Indian tribe to help and this year they’ll make a real “Wickup”, a Native American home. He says they’ll have all kinds of food available. He says they’ll have buffalo burgers and the Meskwaki women will make Indian tacos. Shea says you’ll be able to see real buffalo in the herd kept at the refuge. He says right now the herd is up to about 40 — including several new babies. He says they also have 27 Elk. Shea says the buffalo at the refuge are more than just a tourist attraction. He says in order to really establish a native tall grass prairie habitat, they have to bring back all the puzzle pieces, and the buffalo are a part of that. Shea says there’s no cost to take part in the event except for the food. They’re also giving away a new buffalo nickel to the first 500 people.
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