Buffalo Rock State Park's new baby bison has a name: Hope

A baby bison born at Buffalo Rock State Park last week brought a smile to many people's faces, said Park Superintendent Dan Bell.

So when the park office reviewed suggestions for naming her, one name stood above the rest — Hope.

Bell confirmed Monday, Cocoa's calf will be named Hope.

"We had many people call in with it, and it was suggested with our staff," Bell said. "We figured that would be a nice name given the circumstances. It would brighten our day up."

Cocoa, the three-year-old bison who was transferred in November from Midewin Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington to Buffalo Rock, gave birth April 28 to Hope, while the park was closed due to the governor's stay-at-home order.

The park opened Friday, and visitors came to see the calf.

While Cocoa is protective of Hope and still getting used to visitors, Bell said there have been no issues. Caution tape has been put up at least six feet away from the fencing to give the bison some extra space. Bell said visitors have been good about keeping space.

"She's done a few charges, but it hasn't been because of anything people have done," Bell said of Cocoa. "She's protective and that's natural. She's also still getting used to having visitors. She's used to being in an open range at Midewin."

Cocoa also gives grunts, but this is communication to her calf, said Dan Baum, the site tech at Buffalo Rock State Park.

Hope's birth increased Buffalo Rock State Park's bison population to three. Pebbles, the other resident bison at Buffalo Rock, was born at the park April 21, 2005.

After being transferred in November to give Pebbles companionship, Cocoa was named in December after park staff held a contest among area schools.