Wildlife Reserve a fun, free activity in Guymon
Meet Pokey, the baby longhorn, born July 5
The City of Guymon Wildlife Reserve is a great place to spend time in the summer. The day after Independence Day, the reserve welcomed a new baby longhorn calf named Pokey.
Approximately 160 acres on the west side of Guymon has been set aside to protect an interesting assortment of critters, like buffalo, Watusi cattle, elk and longhorn cattle. Of course, this also is a safe resting place for deer or other animals looking for a drink or food while forging in the wild.
W.H. Coon deeded the land to the City of Guymon in 1957. Five years later, the city dedicated the land as a Game Preserve in the memory of civic leader, councilman, and sheriff C.A. Sullivan.
With original breeding stock brought in from Lawton’s Wildlife Refuge, the preserve still has a wide variety of species.
The best time to get a glimpse of the animals tends to be in the afternoon, though they seem to like being right by the gate of Friday mornings. In the future, the department wants to announce feeding times, so the public can see all the action.
A slide, swings, and picnic table make the reserve a lovely place to catch lunch and show children some of the wonders of nature that not too many get to see daily.
“It means a lot to the City of Guymon. The public loves watching us feed the animals. It’s not something every community gets to enjoy,” The caretaker of the reserve, who also is the Street and Transportation Director, Martin Hernandez said.
Hernandez has worked for the city for almost 11 years and in the recipient of many Best of the Best City Employee certificates. He is a referee for volleyball on many levels and volunteers most of his spare time.
An Oklahoma Panhandle State University alumnus who is proud of his career, Hernandez loves the Guymon community and serving the public.
“It’s a good place to raise a family,” Hernandez said.
The reserve is taken care of in the city budget, but donations for feed are always welcome. For donation opportunities, contact Hernandez at (580) 3386920 ext. 601.
The animals are comfortable with the city crew. While they usually shy away from any vehicles within the area, every four-footed friend gathers around the white city vehicles. Hernandez and a choice few others take time out of their days, even on weekends, to care for the herds.
Recently, a new arrival made an appearance at the reserve. Guymon is proud to welcome little Pokey, a purebred longhorn. Mother Holly, a red and white cow is doing just fine. The big red and white speckled bull called Dusty is the proud father.
Another darling from the pasture has a sad story. Daisy, a Watusi/buffalo hybrid, had to be bottle fed by hand after her mother passed away. Having spent a year among people, Daisy is comfortable around humans but is doing very well back at the reserve. She seems to enjoy the company of her father’s herd, who happen to be buffalo.
Keep an eye out, for when new babies come the public is often invited to help name the little blessings. Right now, besides Pokey and Daisy, the reserve also is home to three baby buffalo and five elk calves.
Whenever there is an emergency, the city street crew is taught how to respond. Fortunately, the great Guymon Flood of 2024 caused no damage to the reserve. Unfortunately, Hernandez’s office in the Street Department wasn’t so lucky. But all’s well that ends well.
There is plenty to do in Guymon, if people just take the time to look. A drive to the Wildlife Reserve is just one of the many things to do in this place we call home.