Whenever we visit the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refugenear Prairie City, Iowa, we look for the buffalo. We have not been disappointed this year. The herd now numbers around 100 and it’s a real treat to see these impressive animals – sometimes very close up.

At the Refuge, you can drive through an area where buffalo and elk roam freely. It’s advisable to drive slowly because you may top a hill and find a buffalo crossing the road.

The elk are more difficult to spot. But on a recent trip, they were out and about, too.  If you go, the best time to see these native animals is near dusk.

My little prairie will never support wildlife like these, but it’s fun to imagine – and to fuel my imagination with glimpses of the real thing so close to home.