Antelope Island
Encyclopedia
Antelope Island, with an area of 42 square miles (109 km²), is the largest island
of 10 islands located within the Great Salt Lake
, Utah
, United States
. The island lies in the southeastern portion of the lake, near Salt Lake City and Davis County, and becomes a peninsula
when the lake is at extremely low levels. Antelope Island was discovered by John C. Fremont and Kit Carson in 1845, when they did their exploration of the Great Salt Lake. They shot a Pronghorn Antelope on the island and in gratitude for the meat they named it Antelope Island.
Antelope Island has natural scenic beauty and holds populations of Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep
, American Bison
, porcupine
, badger
, coyote
, bobcat
, and millions of waterfowl. The bison were introduced to the island in 1893, and Antelope Island Bison Herd
has proven to be a valuable genetic pool for bison breeding and conservation purposes. The bison do well because much of the island is covered by dry, native grassland.
The geology of Antelope Island consists mostly of alluvial plains with prairie grassland on the north, east and south of the island, along with a mountainous central area of older Precambrian
metamorphic and igneous rocks and late Precambrian
to Paleozoic
sedimentary rocks, covered by a thin layer of Quaternary
lake deposits, colluvium
and alluvium
. The Precambrian
deposits on Antelope Island are some of the oldest rocks in the United States
, older even than the Precambrian rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
.
is a Utah State Park
and the entire island is included in the park. Early in the 20th Century, because of its wildlife and scenic beauty, some people suggested that Antelope Island should be made into a National Park, but the movement never came to fruition. When the Utah State Parks
System was created, proposals were made to turn Antelope Island into Antelope Island State Park
and the proposal gradually gathered public support, but Antelope Island was privately owned at the time. Originally, Antelope Island was used as a ranch for cattle and sheep, starting from the earliest days of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons
) controlled the ranch on the island from 1848 until approximately 1870. The island was purchased in 1870 by John Dooly, Sr, and he set up the "Island Improvement Company" which managed the island and ranches from 1884 until 1981. The State of Utah purchased the northern part of the island in the 1969 and finished acquiring the rest in 1981 when the state purchased the historical Fielding Garr Ranch
. Thereafter, the cattle and sheep were removed. The Antelope Island State Park
was established in 1981 as part of the Utah State Parks
System.
The island is accessible via a 7 miles (11.3 km) causeway
from Syracuse
in Davis County
. Access from I-15 is via exit 332, then west along Antelope Drive (SR-108
). The island's shore (all but west side of the island) is mostly relatively flat with beaches and plains to the base of the mountains on the island. These steep mountains are visible from most of the northern Wasatch Front
, reaching a maximum elevation of 6596 feet (2,010 m), which is about 2500 feet (762 m) above the level of the lake.
Antelope Island State Park
operates a 10-watt
travelers information station
on 530 kHz AM. The transmitter is located on the south side of the causeway close to the island itself. This station can be heard in nearby Ogden
and as far south as Salt Lake City. It carries information about the park's hours of operation, as well as promotes upcoming events that the state park coordinates.
On the east side of the island, 11 miles (18 km) south of the causeway, is the Fielding Garr Ranch
. Here one can see the oldest (Anglo) building in Utah that is still on its original foundation. It is managed as a historical 'demonstration' ranch. Classes are sometimes taught at the ranch and tours are available. During the warmer parts of the year horses are also available for hourly rental at the ranch, and a tour guide can take riders out to observe the buffalo. The southern part of the road to the Fielding Garr Ranch
is controlled by a gate which is only open from 9 AM to 6 PM on most days.
Antelope Island State Park
has approximately 300,000 visitors annually. For the year 2010 it was the 5th most visited State Park in Utah.
. The lake is extremely salty, with salt levels reaching as much as 25% of the lake, by volume, so Great Salt Lake does not support fish, but does support large numbers of Brine Shrimp
and these provide a food source for visiting waterfowl. Because of the high salinity, though the island is surrounded by water, it is still mostly without readily available fresh water.
there are no permanent human inhabitants and conditions are quite dry and can be very hot during the summer. Freely flowing fresh water is not readily available on the island, though there are a few natural springs, mostly in the mountainous spine of the island and towards the south end of the island. Water and restrooms are available in the visitor areas of the island. There is a giftshop and small fast food restaurant, often serving "Buffalo Burgers," that is open during the main visitor season. It is located to the west of the campgrounds, at Buffalo Point, which is a small peak and overlook area. Public beaches, a marina and overnight camping areas are available and popular on the northern part of the island. Observing wildlife is also very popular on Antelope Island, especially the large numbers of bison
which are part of the Antelope Island Bison Herd
. Coyotes and antelope are sometimes seen close to the main roads and campsites, and bison often wander across the roads, though the bison are most often found towards the south end of the island near the Fielding Garr Ranch
. Other activities on the island include visiting the historical Fielding Garr Ranch
, horseback riding and photography.
population, the Antelope Island Bison Herd
. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C. Fremont and Kit Carson discovered there when they explored the Great Salt Lake, bison
(American Buffalo) were later introduced. All of the bison on Antelope Island are Plains Bison. The Antelope Island Bison Herd
got its start when, "Twelve bison, 4 bulls (males), 4 cows (females) and 4 calves were taken by boat to the island on February 15, 1893 by William Glassman and John Dooly. These twelve animals provided the foundation for what has grown into one of the largest and oldest publicly owned bison herds in the nation." The herd of bison increased quickly in numbers and by the early 20th century, several hundred of them were present on the island.
One of the early silent movies of the 20th Century "The Covered Wagon
" was partly filmed on Antelope Island where a scene requiring a "Buffalo Hunt" and a "Buffalo Stampede" were needed. At the time the bison herd on Antelope Island was possibly the largest herd of bison left in the United States. After much effort about 350 of the animals were herded into a stampede and the stampede was caught on this early film. The movie is considered by some people to be the first great 'Western Epic' and it established some of the cliches that persist in 'Western' movies, such as circling the wagons in time of danger or attacks. During the movie, seven buffalo were shot and killed for the hunting scenes. "Don't grow sentimental over the seven," said James Cruze, the Director of the film. "The folks out there would like to get rid of the whole herd and they would, but for the sentimental hubbub that is always raised when they talk of rounding out the buffalo. The animals are worthless- there isn't worse meat on earth to eat - and they ruin the whole territory for cattle grazing purposes. So the buffalo remain - sentimental reminders of the America of the past."
It seems that profit was the principal motive for Mr. Dooly to establish the 'Buffalo Herd' on Antelope Island. By the 1890s the American Bison
was extinct over most of its former range and was becoming quite rare. Apparently John Dooly felt that he could ranch the 'buffaloes' and charge people money to hunt them. When keeping the bison for hunting proved economically unfeasible, attempts to ranch them on Antelope Island were terminated. In 1926 a final, large hunt was arranged and the buffalo on the island were hunted and most of them destroyed in one great slaughter. Thereafter a remnant population that escaped the hunt was left alone and it began to increase again. Eventually, the State of Utah purchased ownership of the herd which was once again numbering hundreds of individuals. Since that time, the bison have been carefully managed and monitored for health and absence of disease.
Every year, in late October, all the bison on the island are herded towards a central area in a 'Great Buffalo Roundup' and sent briefly into pens where they are examined, weighed and vaccinated and decisions are made on culling and selecting breeding stock. The majority of the bison are then turned loose within a few days, and are allowed to roam free on the island the rest of the year. The Antelope Island Bison Herd
fluctuates between 550 and 700, and is one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the nation. The reason for the variability of the size of the herd is that the bison produce approximately 150 to 200 calves every year, and since this is prime 'prairie' habitat for bison, with no significant predators, the herd can increase by up to 1/4 every year. It is currently felt that 700 is near the maximum preferred carrying capacity for bison on the island, so the excess bison need to be culled and removed. Bison from this island are often sent to other herd locations around North America because of their genetic isolation, some unique genetic markers contained in the population, and because of their disease free condition. Some bison are also purchased at the pen site in a yearly public auction, and are taken as meat or breeding stock for commercial 'buffalo' farms in other parts of the world.
Other mammals found on the island include Mule Deer
(estimated to number 250), Pronghorn Antelope (approximately 200 on the island), Bighorn Sheep
(estimated 200), Coyotes, Bobcats, Badger
s, Porcupine
s, Cottontail rabbit
s, Jackrabbits, and several species of ground squirrels and other rodents.
Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake attract numerous migrating and nesting birds and nearly 250 different species of birds have been observed on the island.
The two most popular places for bird watching on the island are at the causeway and near the Fielding Garr Ranch
. Along the shoreline of the island, Mallard
, Canada Goose
, Avocets, Black-necked Stilt
s, Willet
s, Long-billed Curlew
s, Sanderling
s, American White Pelican
s, Pied-billed Grebe
s, Killdeer
, Great Blue Heron
s, Snowy Egret
s, White-faced Ibis
and many migratory birds can be observed.
The island grasslands provide habitat for Ring-necked Pheasants, California Quail
, Burrowing Owl
s, Chukar Partridges, Rock Pigeon
s, Mourning Dove
s, Horned Larks, Red-winged Blackbird
s and many other species, plus several species of raptors. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcon
s, Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harriers, American Kestrel
s, Great Horned Owl
s, Barn Owls, Osprey
s and Red-Tailed Hawk
s are some of the species of raptors that can occur on the island.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of 10 islands located within the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The island lies in the southeastern portion of the lake, near Salt Lake City and Davis County, and becomes a peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
when the lake is at extremely low levels. Antelope Island was discovered by John C. Fremont and Kit Carson in 1845, when they did their exploration of the Great Salt Lake. They shot a Pronghorn Antelope on the island and in gratitude for the meat they named it Antelope Island.
Antelope Island has natural scenic beauty and holds populations of Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, American Bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
, porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
, badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, and millions of waterfowl. The bison were introduced to the island in 1893, and Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
has proven to be a valuable genetic pool for bison breeding and conservation purposes. The bison do well because much of the island is covered by dry, native grassland.
The geology of Antelope Island consists mostly of alluvial plains with prairie grassland on the north, east and south of the island, along with a mountainous central area of older Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
metamorphic and igneous rocks and late Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
to Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
sedimentary rocks, covered by a thin layer of Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
lake deposits, colluvium
Colluvium
Colluvium is the name for loose bodies of sediment that have been deposited or built up at the bottom of a low-grade slope or against a barrier on that slope, transported by gravity. The deposits that collect at the foot of a steep slope or cliff are also known by the same name. Colluvium often...
and alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
. The Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
deposits on Antelope Island are some of the oldest rocks in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, older even than the Precambrian rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
.
State Park
Antelope Island State ParkAntelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
is a Utah State Park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
and the entire island is included in the park. Early in the 20th Century, because of its wildlife and scenic beauty, some people suggested that Antelope Island should be made into a National Park, but the movement never came to fruition. When the Utah State Parks
Utah State Parks
Utah State Parks is the common name for the Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation; a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. This is the state agency that manages the state park system of the U.S...
System was created, proposals were made to turn Antelope Island into Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
and the proposal gradually gathered public support, but Antelope Island was privately owned at the time. Originally, Antelope Island was used as a ranch for cattle and sheep, starting from the earliest days of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
) controlled the ranch on the island from 1848 until approximately 1870. The island was purchased in 1870 by John Dooly, Sr, and he set up the "Island Improvement Company" which managed the island and ranches from 1884 until 1981. The State of Utah purchased the northern part of the island in the 1969 and finished acquiring the rest in 1981 when the state purchased the historical Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
. Thereafter, the cattle and sheep were removed. The Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
was established in 1981 as part of the Utah State Parks
Utah State Parks
Utah State Parks is the common name for the Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation; a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. This is the state agency that manages the state park system of the U.S...
System.
The island is accessible via a 7 miles (11.3 km) causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
from Syracuse
Syracuse, Utah
Syracuse is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States, between the Great Salt Lake and Interstate 15, about north of Salt Lake City. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.Syracuse was incorporated on September 3, 1935....
in Davis County
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
. Access from I-15 is via exit 332, then west along Antelope Drive (SR-108
Utah State Route 108
State Route 108 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah that spans in Davis and Weber Counties. The road connects I-15 and Layton to Syracuse and Clinton before terminating at SR-126 in Roy...
). The island's shore (all but west side of the island) is mostly relatively flat with beaches and plains to the base of the mountains on the island. These steep mountains are visible from most of the northern Wasatch Front
Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Front is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of cities and towns stretched along the Wasatch Range from approximately Santaquin in the south to Brigham City in the north...
, reaching a maximum elevation of 6596 feet (2,010 m), which is about 2500 feet (762 m) above the level of the lake.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
operates a 10-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
travelers information station
Highway advisory radio
Travelers Information Radio Stations , are sometimes also called Highway Advisory Radio Stations by Departments of Transportation in the United States. These radio stations are licensed low-power AM radio stations set up by local transport departments to provide bulletins to motorists and other...
on 530 kHz AM. The transmitter is located on the south side of the causeway close to the island itself. This station can be heard in nearby Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
and as far south as Salt Lake City. It carries information about the park's hours of operation, as well as promotes upcoming events that the state park coordinates.
On the east side of the island, 11 miles (18 km) south of the causeway, is the Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
. Here one can see the oldest (Anglo) building in Utah that is still on its original foundation. It is managed as a historical 'demonstration' ranch. Classes are sometimes taught at the ranch and tours are available. During the warmer parts of the year horses are also available for hourly rental at the ranch, and a tour guide can take riders out to observe the buffalo. The southern part of the road to the Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
is controlled by a gate which is only open from 9 AM to 6 PM on most days.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
has approximately 300,000 visitors annually. For the year 2010 it was the 5th most visited State Park in Utah.
Great Salt Lake
Antelope Island is surrounded by the Great Salt LakeGreat Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
. The lake is extremely salty, with salt levels reaching as much as 25% of the lake, by volume, so Great Salt Lake does not support fish, but does support large numbers of Brine Shrimp
Brine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
and these provide a food source for visiting waterfowl. Because of the high salinity, though the island is surrounded by water, it is still mostly without readily available fresh water.
Activities
Antelope Island is known for its scenic beauty, especially in the northwest quadrant of the island at Buffalo Point and White Rock Bay, where mountains and hills overlook beaches as well as the reflecting waters of the Great Salt Lake and other islands that are visible in the lake. Sunsets are often spectacular. A balloon festival is held yearly, around Labor Day, on a Friday and Saturday. Birdwatching on Antelope Island is well known. Hiking and Cycling are popular activities, however water is scarce and there are very few trees on the island. Though not strictly a Desert IslandDesert island
A desert island or uninhabited island is an island that has yet to be populated by humans. Uninhabited islands are often used in movies or stories about shipwrecked people, and are also used as stereotypes for the idea of "paradise". Some uninhabited islands are protected as nature reserves and...
there are no permanent human inhabitants and conditions are quite dry and can be very hot during the summer. Freely flowing fresh water is not readily available on the island, though there are a few natural springs, mostly in the mountainous spine of the island and towards the south end of the island. Water and restrooms are available in the visitor areas of the island. There is a giftshop and small fast food restaurant, often serving "Buffalo Burgers," that is open during the main visitor season. It is located to the west of the campgrounds, at Buffalo Point, which is a small peak and overlook area. Public beaches, a marina and overnight camping areas are available and popular on the northern part of the island. Observing wildlife is also very popular on Antelope Island, especially the large numbers of bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
which are part of the Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
. Coyotes and antelope are sometimes seen close to the main roads and campsites, and bison often wander across the roads, though the bison are most often found towards the south end of the island near the Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
. Other activities on the island include visiting the historical Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
, horseback riding and photography.
Wildlife
Antelope Island has a unique array of wildlife and is famous for its large bisonBison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
population, the Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C. Fremont and Kit Carson discovered there when they explored the Great Salt Lake, bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
(American Buffalo) were later introduced. All of the bison on Antelope Island are Plains Bison. The Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
got its start when, "Twelve bison, 4 bulls (males), 4 cows (females) and 4 calves were taken by boat to the island on February 15, 1893 by William Glassman and John Dooly. These twelve animals provided the foundation for what has grown into one of the largest and oldest publicly owned bison herds in the nation." The herd of bison increased quickly in numbers and by the early 20th century, several hundred of them were present on the island.
One of the early silent movies of the 20th Century "The Covered Wagon
The Covered Wagon
The Covered Wagon is an American silent Western film released by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by James Cruze based on a novel by Emerson Hough about a group of pioneers traveling through the old West from Kansas to Oregon. J...
" was partly filmed on Antelope Island where a scene requiring a "Buffalo Hunt" and a "Buffalo Stampede" were needed. At the time the bison herd on Antelope Island was possibly the largest herd of bison left in the United States. After much effort about 350 of the animals were herded into a stampede and the stampede was caught on this early film. The movie is considered by some people to be the first great 'Western Epic' and it established some of the cliches that persist in 'Western' movies, such as circling the wagons in time of danger or attacks. During the movie, seven buffalo were shot and killed for the hunting scenes. "Don't grow sentimental over the seven," said James Cruze, the Director of the film. "The folks out there would like to get rid of the whole herd and they would, but for the sentimental hubbub that is always raised when they talk of rounding out the buffalo. The animals are worthless- there isn't worse meat on earth to eat - and they ruin the whole territory for cattle grazing purposes. So the buffalo remain - sentimental reminders of the America of the past."
It seems that profit was the principal motive for Mr. Dooly to establish the 'Buffalo Herd' on Antelope Island. By the 1890s the American Bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
was extinct over most of its former range and was becoming quite rare. Apparently John Dooly felt that he could ranch the 'buffaloes' and charge people money to hunt them. When keeping the bison for hunting proved economically unfeasible, attempts to ranch them on Antelope Island were terminated. In 1926 a final, large hunt was arranged and the buffalo on the island were hunted and most of them destroyed in one great slaughter. Thereafter a remnant population that escaped the hunt was left alone and it began to increase again. Eventually, the State of Utah purchased ownership of the herd which was once again numbering hundreds of individuals. Since that time, the bison have been carefully managed and monitored for health and absence of disease.
Every year, in late October, all the bison on the island are herded towards a central area in a 'Great Buffalo Roundup' and sent briefly into pens where they are examined, weighed and vaccinated and decisions are made on culling and selecting breeding stock. The majority of the bison are then turned loose within a few days, and are allowed to roam free on the island the rest of the year. The Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island Bison Herd
Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
fluctuates between 550 and 700, and is one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the nation. The reason for the variability of the size of the herd is that the bison produce approximately 150 to 200 calves every year, and since this is prime 'prairie' habitat for bison, with no significant predators, the herd can increase by up to 1/4 every year. It is currently felt that 700 is near the maximum preferred carrying capacity for bison on the island, so the excess bison need to be culled and removed. Bison from this island are often sent to other herd locations around North America because of their genetic isolation, some unique genetic markers contained in the population, and because of their disease free condition. Some bison are also purchased at the pen site in a yearly public auction, and are taken as meat or breeding stock for commercial 'buffalo' farms in other parts of the world.
Other mammals found on the island include Mule Deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
(estimated to number 250), Pronghorn Antelope (approximately 200 on the island), Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
(estimated 200), Coyotes, Bobcats, Badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
s, Porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s, Cottontail rabbit
Cottontail rabbit
The cottontail rabbits are among the 16 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas.In appearance, most cottontail rabbits closely resemble the wild European Rabbit...
s, Jackrabbits, and several species of ground squirrels and other rodents.
Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake attract numerous migrating and nesting birds and nearly 250 different species of birds have been observed on the island.
The two most popular places for bird watching on the island are at the causeway and near the Fielding Garr Ranch
Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
. Along the shoreline of the island, Mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
, Canada Goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, Avocets, Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
The Black-necked Stilt is a locally abundant shorebird of American wetlands and coastlines. It is found from the coastal areas of California through much of the interior western United States and along the Gulf of Mexico as far east as Florida, then south through Central America and the Caribbean...
s, Willet
Willet
The Willet, Tringa semipalmata , is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family. It is a good-sized and stout scolopacid, the largest of the shanks...
s, Long-billed Curlew
Long-billed Curlew
The Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus, is a large North American shorebird of the family Scolopacidae. This species was also called "sicklebird" and the "candlestick bird". The species is native to central and western North America...
s, Sanderling
Sanderling
The Sanderling is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia...
s, American White Pelican
American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
s, Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
The Pied-billed Grebe is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Since the Atitlán Grebe, Podilymbus gigas, has become extinct, it is the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus.-Description:...
s, Killdeer
Killdeer
The Killdeer is a medium-sized plover.Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering...
, Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
s, Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas....
s, White-faced Ibis
White-faced Ibis
The White-faced Ibis is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from the western USA south through Mexico, as well as from southeastern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia south to...
and many migratory birds can be observed.
The island grasslands provide habitat for Ring-necked Pheasants, California Quail
California Quail
The California Quail, Callipepla californica, also known as the California Valley Quail or Valley Quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family...
, Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...
s, Chukar Partridges, Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
The Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae . In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon"....
s, Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove is a member of the dove family . The bird is also called the Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds...
s, Horned Larks, Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and...
s and many other species, plus several species of raptors. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcon
Prairie Falcon
The Prairie Falcon is a medium-sized falcon of western North America.It is about the size of a Peregrine Falcon or a crow, with an average length of 40 cm , wingspan of 1 metre , and weight of 720 g...
s, Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harriers, American Kestrel
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel , sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America...
s, Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
s, Barn Owls, Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s and Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
s are some of the species of raptors that can occur on the island.
See also
- Antelope Island State ParkAntelope Island State ParkAntelope Island State Park is a Utah state park on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. The park is in Davis County, Utah in the United States. It is open for year-round recreation and features an abundant wildlife population, including one of the largest free roaming herds of American Bison in...
- Fielding Garr RanchFielding Garr RanchThe Fielding Garr Ranch is a ranch located on the southeastern portion of Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and is part of the Utah State Parks system....
- Antelope Island Bison HerdAntelope Island Bison HerdAntelope Island in Great Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America is part of Antelope Island State Park. On the island, a semi-free ranging population of "Buffaloes" or American Bison have been in existence since 1893. Though the island was named for the Pronghorn Antelope that John C...
- Henry Mountains Bison HerdHenry Mountains Bison HerdThe Henry Mountains Bison Herd, numbering 250 to 400 bison, is believed to be one of only four free roaming and genetically pure herds on public lands in North America...
- Fremont IslandFremont IslandFremont Island, at , is the third largest island within the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA. Antelope Island, at in area, is the largest island within the Great Salt Lake.-Flora:...
- Stansbury IslandStansbury IslandStansbury Island is the second largest island within the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA. Located in Tooele County, it is considered an island even though a dirt causeway connects it to the main land. Stansbury Island was named after Howard Stansbury, the leader of a government expedition that...
External links
- Antelope Island State Park
- W. Adolph Yonkee, et. al., ROAD AND TRAIL LOGS OF ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK, DAVIS COUNTY, UTAH, in Geologic Road, Trail, and Lake Guides to Utah's Parks and Monuments 2000 Utah Geological Association Publication 29
- Photos of Antelope Island State Park
- Antelope Island Field Trip Home Page Weber State University Department of Botany
- Antelope Island Bike Trail Utah.com
- Canyon Country Hiking and Camping Notebook: Antelope Island State Park