The land associated with old Fort Niobrara was used for this purpose and become the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. In 1936 a small herd of Texas longhorn cattle was established on the refuge. These descendants of the colorful, tough animals that made cowboys, cattle drives, and cow towns famous are a part of the history of the west. Although many kinds of wildlife inhabit the refuge, the 19,122 acres of refuge lands are managed primarily for buffalo, elk, and Texas longhorns. Once large herds of these animals roamed the Sandhills of Nebraska.
Buffalo are well adapted for life on the open prairie.
The main herd winters on the plains and breaks north of the Niobrara River. When snow is deep, the buffalo sweep the snow aside with their heads to eat the grasses below. In the spring, refuge cowboys drive the herd across the Niobrara River onto the summer ranges south of the river. Soon after crossing the river the bright tawny to buff colored calves are born. Each cow gives birth to one calf which is soon able to keep up with the herd.