Description
What is the Adopt-A-Bison hat?
It’s a washed cotton baseball cap that comes with your $35 Adopt-A-Bison adoption. The front has an embroidered bison cow and calf. The back reads “I Adopted A Bison At Wind Cave N.P.” in stitched lettering. The forest green color has a broken-in, vintage finish right out of the box.
A portion of your adoption goes directly to bison conservation and research at Wind Cave National Park. The rest covers the hat and program costs. The program is run by Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave.
What your adoption funds
Since 2017, Adopt-A-Bison has raised over $130,000. That money has paid for:
- 10 GPS tracking collars so park biologists can study herd movement (purchased 2019)
- A monitoring laptop for herd data analysis
- The Wind Cave Bison Story Map, an interactive tool that shows herd movement and family groups
- Planned real-time herd monitoring displays at the Wind Cave Visitor Center
About the hat
- Style: Unstructured baseball cap (dad hat) with a curved brim
- Color: Forest green with a garment-washed, vintage finish
- Front: Multi-color embroidered bison cow and calf
- Back: “I Adopted A Bison At Wind Cave N.P.” embroidered in white
- Closure: Adjustable strap (one size fits most)
- Dimensions: 10″ x 7 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
- Weight: 3.1 oz
Who is this for?
Visitors who want to wear their support. If you bought the plush calf and want to double down, or if a stuffed animal isn’t your speed, this is the wearable version of the same conservation donation. You’ll get asked about it on the trail.
Gift buyers. A $35 hat that funds GPS collars and bison research is more interesting than a generic national park cap. Works for birthdays, Father’s Day, or the person who already has too many park t-shirts.
Repeat visitors to Wind Cave. If you’ve been coming to Wind Cave for years and want something beyond the usual souvenir, this hat marks your connection to the herd. The back text is a conversation starter.
Why the Wind Cave bison herd matters
Wind Cave National Park manages 350 to 500 bison on 33,847 acres of mixed-grass prairie. The herd started in 1913 with 14 animals from the New York Zoological Society and six more from Yellowstone in 1916.
A 2006 genetic study tested 11 Department of Interior bison herds and found cattle gene introgression in 7 of them. Wind Cave and Yellowstone were the only two that came back clean. About 95% of bison in North America carry some cattle DNA from 19th-century crossbreeding. Wind Cave’s don’t. That genetic purity, combined with brucellosis-free status, makes this herd critical foundation stock for conservation programs nationwide. Bison from Wind Cave have been transferred to The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie preserve in Kansas.
Frequently asked questions
Where does my $35 go?
A portion goes directly to bison conservation and research at Wind Cave National Park. The rest covers the hat and program administration.
Is this the same Adopt-A-Bison program as the plush?
Yes. The Adopt-A-Bison Plush Calf and this hat are two options in the same program. Both include a conservation donation. Choose whichever you prefer, or get both.
What size head does this fit?
One size fits most adults. The hat has an adjustable strap closure on the back. It’s an unstructured (dad hat) style, so it sits naturally without a stiff front panel.
Is the embroidery on the front or the back?
Both. The bison cow and calf design is on the front. “I Adopted A Bison At Wind Cave N.P.” is embroidered on the back.
What has the Adopt-A-Bison program accomplished?
Since 2017, the program has raised over $130,000. That money has purchased 10 GPS tracking collars, a monitoring laptop for herd data, and the interactive Bison Story Map. Future plans include real-time herd displays at the Wind Cave Visitor Center.
Do BHPFA members get a discount on Adopt-A products?
No. Adopt-A products are excluded from the standard 15% member discount, so the conservation portion of every adoption stays intact.
Can I visit the bison at Wind Cave?
Yes. Wind Cave National Park is about 10 miles north of Hot Springs, South Dakota. Bison are most visible on the park’s grasslands in early morning and evening. Spring (April through May) is calving season.
Does buying this support national parks?
Yes. A portion of every adoption goes directly to Wind Cave bison conservation. The program is run by Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Product family
The Adopt-A-Bison program has two products. Both include a conservation donation:
- Adopt-A-Bison Hat (this product): washed cotton cap, $35
- Adopt-A-Bison Plush Calf: 12″ Wild Republic plush, $35
