Written bids for nine animals from the state bison herd will be accepted at the Hot Springs State Park office in Thermopolis until 5 p.m., January 12 for the purchase of the following bison: four 2020 heifer calves, three 2020 bull calves, and two 2019 yearling heifers.

All animals have all been properly vaccinated. Minimum bids are as follows: $1,000 for 2020 calves and $1,300 for yearling heifers.

Bids will be accepted for any or all of these bison. Each animal offered will be sold to the highest bidder, subject to the minimum bid specified in the sales list provided by the State. Buyers may begin picking up their animals on January 15. The seller will not provide delivery services.

For bison information, please call Jody Lange at 307-921-2610 or Kevin Skates at 307-921-2057. The Hot Springs State Park headquarters number is 307-864-2176.

 All settlements will be made with the Superintendent of Hot Springs State Park within seven days of successful bid notification.

Wyoming State Parks and historic sites will host the extremely popular New Year’s Day First Day Hikes again during 2021, but with a few changes.

Participants will be asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines  and pre- and post-hike refreshments will not be made available due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the public is encouraged to bring their own snacks and hot beverages.

This year, 11 New Year’s Day guided hikes and walks will be offered at state park and historic site venues statewide held in conjunction with similar hikes held in all 50 states; a part of the America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative.

This is the 10th consecutive year Wyoming is offering free First Day Hikes.

Park staff and volunteers will lead this year’s hikes, from 1/2 to 3.5 miles. Details about hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain and tips regarding proper clothing are listed on the America’s State Parks website. Visit www.naspd.org to find a First Day Hike nearest you.

In Wyoming, hikes will be offered at the following locations and times:

Bear River State Park – Approx. 1-2-mile hike in the park on easy terrain, meet at Bear River State Park Visitor Center, 10 a.m., 307-789-6547

Boysen State Park – two-mile hike through moderate to difficult terrain, meet at park headquarters, 10 a.m., 307-876-2796

Buffalo Bill State Park – four-mile hike on easy terrain, meet at Hayden Arch Bridge (1.5 miles out of town on Old Yellowstone Hwy.), 9 a.m., 307-587-9227

Curt Gowdy State Park – two-mile hike on easy to moderate terrain, meet at Curt Gowdy Visitor Center, 11 a.m., 307-632-7946

Fort Bridger State Historic Site – one-mile hike on easy terrain, meet at Post Trader’s Store, 1 p.m., 307-782-3842

Pioneer Museum – The hike distance will be an easy one-mile hike around the fairgrounds; meet at WY Pioneer Memorial Museum lobby at 10 am, afterwards join the group for hot chocolate and coffee to warm up in the Museum lobby, 307-358-9288

Guernsey State Park – 3.5-mile hike, start and end at the Castle, 10 a.m., 307-836-2334

Hot Springs State Park – Easy ½-mile or more difficult one-mile hikes, meet at the Chamber Office, 11 a.m., 307-864-2176

Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site – one-mile hike over easy terrain, meet in main parking lot, 10 a.m., 307-469-2234

Sinks Canyon State Park – one-mile hike on easy to moderate terrain, meet at Nature Trail parking lot, 1 p.m., 307-332-6333

South Pass City State Historic Site – two-mile hike, meet at Dance Hall, 1 p.m., 307-332-3684

Nick Neylon, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and CulturalResources, has been elected as the Northwest Region representative to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).

Neylon has been employed by Wyoming State Parks for six years and has more than 30 years of experience with parks, historic sites and museums around the country.

NASPD is a national organization with a mission to “promote and advance the state park systems of America for their own significance, as well as for their important contributions to the nation’s environment, heritage, health and economy.”

NASPD board members representing six regions of the country govern America’s State Park alliance. Neylon’s involvement within the organization’s leadership ensures Wyoming State Park issues and concerns are at the forefront of discussions regarding industry policies.

NASPD is made up of state park directors in all 50 states. There are more than 10,200 state parks covering more than 18.5 million acres. More than 740 million people visit America's state parks on an annual basis, creating an annual economic impact to local communities of greater than $20 billion.

State’s represented in the northwest region are Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alaska.