Owner of roaming bison comes forward

Someone has finally stepped forward and claimed a herd of bison roaming free near Tisdale.
 
“Our suspicions were right. They came from outside the municipality. We confirmed that Tuesday,” said Barrier Valley Reeve Wayne Black.
 
Black said he has spoken to people who know the owners and they are making plans to round up the animals this weekend.
 
“I think the plan is to get a number of people and work on the assumption, if you can move the bison, they will start moving toward their home range.”
 
“You’re not going to catch individual bison or load them into trucks. These bison will return home the same way they got out, hopefully on their four legs,” he said.
 
The animals got loose last week after slipping through an opening in the owner’s fence. They have been spotted crossing highways and grid roads in the area.
 
Black said they are concerned having the animals running loose in the community.
 
So far he has heard of only one run-in with the animals. “Individuals were maybe trying to help move the bison. I think there was a slight accident. No injuries but a little bit of property damage.”
 
Black said they don’t know exactly where the animals are. However after spending Tuesday looking at tracks they now believe the number of animals at large to be only 25 – down from initial estimates of 100.
 
He is optimistic the plan to round up the animals will be successful.
 
The farm the animals belong to is located in the neighbouring RM of Pleasantdale.