PETERSBURG, Iowa -- The buffalo couldn't roam in The Sunshine State.

Bugs, poor vegetation and the searing heat in the state of Florida left co-owners Holly Dennison and Cas Szcerbinski with no choice.

Petersburg, here we come.

Dennison brought a herd of seven buffalo to her Petersburg farm in October, allowing the powerful animals to thrive in a more temperate climate.

And the best was yet to come as the first baby buffalo of Dennison's herd, named "Dakota," was born on May 4. Dakota, daughter of the buffalo "Sturgis," is believed to be the first buffalo born in the Petersburg area.

"She's happy-go-lucky. She's funny. She will try to run with them, keep up with them," Dennison said.

There are 2,889 bison on 110 Iowa farms, according to the 2007 USDA Agricultural Census.

Dennison, formerly of Daytona Beach, Fla., decided the Florida climate was not suitable and hauled the herd in a cattle loader some 1,300 miles to Petersburg.

"The buffalo weren't thriving anymore," Dennison said. "The

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grass wasn't good for them; the hay wasn't what they needed.

"I realized it, (Cas) realized it, that they would be much better off up here."

Szcerbinski, of Barberville, Fla., knew Dennison had the ability to work with buffalo when he brought her on as a co-owner.

"She has done a pretty good job raising them," Szcerbinski said. "It was too costly to raise them (in Florida) with feed costs.

"It's working out a lot better."

Dennison has talked with local schools to invite children out to her farm.

Cognizant of the animals' quick temper, Dennison has decided to wait until the herd becomes more comfortable on the farm.

"I want to make sure everything is safe for the kids," Dennison said.

Asked if she liked one buffalo over the others in the herd, Dennison declined to play favorites.

"They are all special to me," she said. "They are all one of a kind."