There are some very unique things about the Lehigh Valley Zoo. One is that its location really requires one to use GPS, or have a friend who knows how to get there. Because if you're not going there, you're not going to Pass-by it. Also, there is only one road in and one road out. They are not strictly speaking, the same road. They are one lane wide, which begs the imagination when you think that there have to be reasons for a semi-truck to deliver things...right?
To make it even more interesting, on the road out you have no choice but to ford Jordan Creek. Now, they
have it damned and manage the water flow so that you're only crossing water at a depth of 4 inches or so. Once you're on the other side the winding road leads you out and up to the top of the ridge overlooking the 29 acres that constitute the zoo. The ridge and surrounding areas are home to 2 small herds of American Bison, a herd of Rocky Mountain Elk and a collection of Fallow Deer. In a grove of invasive scrub olives, I caught a glimpse of some of the Follow Deer.
Section XI: American Bison
The end returns us to the beginning. American Bison were the impetus for the creation of the Trexler Game Preserve back in 1911. Today they continue the tradition with an active pair of American Bison herds numbering 7 animals each. Up until last year, it was a unified herd of 15 animals and then the alpha male passed from old age creating a void that caused a rift with the herd. In consultation with the AZA, Lehigh Valley Zoo decided to separate the two dominant males in order to avoid serious injury. Now one roams in the valley and the other on the ridge. The accommodation mirrors the potential of a herd in the wild dividing in a moment of transition like this one.
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