New Buffalo Rock bison named Cocoa

Breakfast cereal lovers will appreciate this one.

The new 2-year-old bison at Buffalo Rock State Park was named Cocoa, after the name was received in a contest involving school children.

In early November, Cocoa was brought to Buffalo Rock from Midewin Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington to join 14-year-old bison Pebbles. The older bison also got her name from school children.

The new bison was brought in after 20-year-old Holly, Pebbles’ mother, was euthanized after becoming ill. Holly was brought in to the park in 2005 and unbeknownst to the park management, was pregnant with Pebbles.

Pebbles has had a companion bison since birth.

Cocoa weighs about 1,000 pounds and is close to 6 feet tall – and she’s only going to get bigger.

In the winter, the bisons' diet switches from oats to crack corn and hay.

An enclosed shelter provides the bison with shade and water, and it offers visitors an up-close look. The shelter has windows from the walkway for peeking in. A trail wraps around the enclosure, giving visitors an opportunity to see the buffalo wherever they roam.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources takes care of the bison.

Caretakers make sure they have enough food and water, and make regular trips to look out for their general well-being.

Visitors are reminded not to feed the bison, which sometimes will come up to the fence to say hello or lie against the fencing to relax.