Bison Rubbing Stone — Frontier No. 19, SK
Posted by: 
Dunbar Loop
N 49° 10.922 W 109° 07.115
12U E 637105 N 5449396
The Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in Saskatchewan features bison rubbing rocks, glacial relics used by bison to groom, shed fur, and remove parasites, connecting the prairie to its Ice Age past.
Waymark Code: WM1BB2K
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Posted: 01/08/2025
Views: 0
The bison rubbing rocks at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area are glacial erratics, large stones transported by the movement of glaciers during the Ice Age. As glaciers advanced and retreated across the landscape, they picked up rocks and debris from their source regions. These materials were carried along by the ice, often over vast distances.
When the glaciers eventually melted, they left behind these rocks, sometimes far from their original location. These glacial erratics can vary in size and composition, depending on the geology of the area from which they were transported. In the case of the bison rubbing rocks, the stones found on the prairie were carried southward by glaciers, likely originating from more northern regions.
These rocks, now scattered across the landscape, serve as remnants of the powerful geologic forces that shaped much of North America's terrain. Over time, the bison in the region began to use these erratics to scratch and groom themselves, turning a natural geological feature into an important part of their behavioural history. The rocks thus connect both the biological and geological histories of the area, offering a unique insight into the dynamic forces that have shaped the land and its ecosystems.
To learn more about this incredible conservation area and how you can get involved, visit the official page:
Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area
.