See Where The Bison Roam At Midewin In September's 'Buzz' Episode

September’s “Buzz” nature show is the second part of a two-part episode that explores the bison and restored prairie fields of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

To get close-up footage of the bison, "Buzz" Forest Preserve District of Will County staff were able to film from inside a vehicle surrounded by the creatures.

The episode debuts at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, on the Forest Preserve’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

The show also can be viewed at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, on WJYS-TV, courtesy of funding from The Nature Foundation of Will County. Additionally, the monthly show airs on local cable stations in Joliet, Naperville, New Lenox, Romeoville and Tinley Park.

If you missed part one of the Midewin show in August, you can still catch the episode on YouTube.

For the September show, program host Suzy Lyttle, a Forest Preserve program manager, said viewers will learn about all the work that went into creating the blooming prairies at Midewin, which is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and located in Will County.

“The restoration projects at Midewin have many partners and hardworking volunteers,” Lyttle said. "We will also take a trip to the seedbeds to see where the magic begins and learn where the seeds go.”

Bison experiment

The episode will conclude with information on Midewin’s bison, which were introduced to help restore the prairie through their grazing habits.

“The bison have been a big attraction for visitors, and we learn why they were introduced, how they affect the land, and where they can roam,” Lyttle said.

Because the bison roam a massive area, it took some planning to get up close to the huge creatures, said Chad Merda, the Forest Preserve's digital communications manager.

"Thanks to some coordination with Midewin staff, we were allowed inside the bison pasture to get some very cool footage of these animals," Merda said. "For our safety, we were only allowed to film from inside a vehicle."