HANNA CITY, Ill. – “Everyone who visited Big Mike walked away with a feeling of peace.”
Those are some of the words on social media from Wildlife Prairie Park about “Big Mike” the bison.
“Big Mike” died Thursday. Park officials say they estimate he was fifteen, and had been with the park for eight years. The park says Big Mike had been losing weight and didn’t want to eat lately, before he collapsed.
Smaller and more domesticated than their other bison, the park gave him his own pen, which he shared with “Elsa” the Elk. They say even from his early days, Big Mike was genial and loved attention. The park calls him humble, curious, and gentle.
He was described as “one of our Park’s beloved animals.”
Wildlife Prairie Park says a memorial fund in Big Mike’s name has been set up for anyone wanting to make a donation toward the park’s bison.
