Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Ferret Pin by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Enameled metal souvenir pin for Buffalo Gap National Grassland, home to one of the largest black-footed ferret reintroduction sites in North America. The pin features a ferret design with the grassland name. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics. Approximately 3/4″ x 7/8″ die-cut metal with butterfly-clutch backing.
- 3/4″ x 7/8″ die-cut enameled metal with colored enamel and gold-tone raised details
- Black-footed ferret design with “Buffalo Gap National Grassland” text
- Butterfly-clutch backing for secure attachment to jackets, hats, bags, or lanyards
- 0.2 oz
- Proceeds support education, conservation, and visitor services at BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Ferret Pin by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Enameled metal souvenir pin for Buffalo Gap National Grassland, home to one of the largest black-footed ferret reintroduction sites in North America. The pin features a ferret design with the grassland name. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics. Approximately 3/4″ x 7/8″ die-cut metal with butterfly-clutch backing.
- 3/4″ x 7/8″ die-cut enameled metal with colored enamel and gold-tone raised details
- Black-footed ferret design with “Buffalo Gap National Grassland” text
- Butterfly-clutch backing for secure attachment to jackets, hats, bags, or lanyards
- 0.2 oz
- Proceeds support education, conservation, and visitor services at BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Description
What is this pin?
An enameled metal pin for Buffalo Gap National Grassland in western South Dakota. The design features a black-footed ferret, the critically endangered prairie predator whose largest wild population lives in Buffalo Gap’s Conata Basin. “Buffalo Gap National Grassland” arcs around the design. Gold-tone raised details, colored enamel fill, and a butterfly-clutch backing on the reverse.
Made by L.W. Bristol Classics, a family-owned manufacturer in Bristol, Tennessee that has produced custom souvenir pins and hiking medallions for parks and public lands across the country for decades. This pin is sold by BHPFA at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD, and online.
About Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Buffalo Gap National Grassland covers about 591,000 acres across Fall River, Custer, Pennington, and Jackson counties in southwestern South Dakota. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, one of BHPFA’s partner units.
The grassland sits just east of the Black Hills, bordering Badlands National Park to the north. The terrain mixes rolling mixed-grass prairie with badlands formations, creek drainages, and ponderosa pine draws. Pronghorn, mule deer, bison, prairie dogs, and numerous grassland bird species live here.
The Conata Basin section of Buffalo Gap is one of the most significant black-footed ferret conservation sites in North America. Black-footed ferrets were declared extinct in 1979, then rediscovered in Meeteetse, Wyoming in 1981. A captive breeding program began, and wild reintroductions followed at several prairie dog colony sites. Buffalo Gap’s Conata Basin, starting in 1994, became one of the largest and most successful reintroduction sites. By the early 2000s, the Conata Basin population had grown to more than 300 ferrets, the largest wild population in the world at the time.
The National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD, operated by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with BHPFA, interprets the history and ecology of all 20 national grasslands, including Buffalo Gap.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 3/4″ x 7/8″ (die-cut shape)
- Weight: 0.2 oz
- Construction: Die-cut enameled metal with gold-tone raised details
- Backing: Butterfly clutch (standard pin back)
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
Who is this for?
If you’ve visited the Conata Basin or the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall and want a small physical reminder of the place, this pin is the straightforward choice. It fits on a jacket lapel, hat brim, or backpack strap.
For collectors interested in endangered species or conservation history, the ferret design carries real weight. The black-footed ferret recovery program is one of the more dramatic conservation stories in Great Plains history, and this pin references that directly rather than showing a generic landscape.
It also works as a small gift for anyone with a connection to the Black Hills or Nebraska grasslands region.
Frequently asked questions
What does the pin design show?
The pin features a black-footed ferret, the critically endangered species that lives at Buffalo Gap’s Conata Basin. Text identifies “Buffalo Gap National Grassland.” Gold-tone raised details and colored enamel fill.
How big is this pin?
3/4 inch wide by 7/8 inch tall, die-cut shape. Roughly the same size as other pins in the BHPFA line, which run 3/4″ to 1″ across.
What kind of backing does it have?
Standard butterfly clutch (also called a military clutch). Press the clutch apart, slide onto the pin post, and release. Holds securely on fabric.
Is Buffalo Gap National Grassland a national park?
No. Buffalo Gap is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. It is not an NPS unit. BHPFA is the official cooperating association for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, which includes Buffalo Gap, Oglala, and Fort Pierre National Grasslands.
Can I get a Passport to Your National Parks stamp at Buffalo Gap?
No. The Passport stamp program is NPS only. USFS sites do not have Passport cancellation stamps. If you have a Passport book, the nearest BHPFA partner sites with stamps are Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
What is the black-footed ferret?
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is North America’s only native ferret species. It depends almost entirely on prairie dog colonies for food and shelter. By 1979 it was believed extinct due to habitat loss and disease. A small population was found in Wyoming in 1981, leading to a captive breeding and reintroduction program. Buffalo Gap’s Conata Basin became one of the largest reintroduction sites starting in 1994. The ferret remains one of North America’s most endangered mammals.
Does buying this support the grasslands?
Your purchase supports Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, the official nonprofit partner of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (which includes Buffalo Gap), the Black Hills National Forest, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Proceeds fund education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
What other pins does BHPFA carry?
BHPFA carries 35+ pins covering parks and forests across the Black Hills, Nebraska, and western South Dakota, including Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Black Elk Peak, Scotts Bluff, and Agate Fossil Beds. All are $4.99. Browse the full pin collection.
More BHPFA collectibles
Every Purchase Makes a Difference
When you shop with Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, you are directly funding:
- Education programs — nature workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and homeschool adventures for kids across the Black Hills
- Trail maintenance — keeping hiking trails safe and accessible at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Black Hills National Forest
- Visitor services — park store operations, interpretive programs, and the staff who help millions of visitors each year
- Conservation — supporting the long-term health of public lands in the Black Hills and Nebraska
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the Black Hills region. We have supported these public lands since 1946.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Brand | L.W. Bristol Classics |
| Dimensions | 3/4" x 7/8" (die-cut shape) |
| Weight | 0.2 oz |
| Material | Die-cut enameled metal |
Note on International Orders
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