Dozens of bison flee northern ranch after tree falls on fence

It appears it is going to be a busy weekend for Northern Ontario bison rancher Muharram Genc, who will be busy trying to round up his animals in the Lavigne area east of Sudbury and along Highway 64.

This follows an advisory on X(Twitter) by Ontario Provincial Police North East Region Thursday afternoon advising that a farm fence was damaged by a fallen tree and a large number of bison had escaped in the Highway 64 area. OPP were advising motorists to be vigilant.

#NipissingwestOPP would like to advise motorists to be vigilant while travelling on #Hwy64, Lavigne area. After a fence was damaged from a fallen tree, about 50 Bisons wandered off the secure property to the surrounding area. #Slowdown, #Drivesafe. ^rl. pic.twitter.com/kQC8XQXq5L

— OPP North East Region (@OPP_NER) June 27, 2024

Ranch owner Genc said the missing herd is 50 or more animals. He said he could not be certain of the number because this is calving season and he believes many new animals have been born in recent days. 

"I cannot count exactly what it is, but I know it's more than 50 head for sure," he said.

He said the animals have moved to a large field about two kilometres away from his own property. The field consists of flat land and brush, he said.

Genc said he is not worried about predators at the moment because the bison are such large animals and are able to take care of themselves. 

He added that he and some neighbours are working to surround the area using horseback riders and ATVs. He said the current effort is to surround the animals and try to move them back to his own farm.  

Genc said it is not like herding cattle because bison are still wild animals in many respects.

"They are nervous. They will run away from you. They don't like people driving up to them. They are not like cows," he said. 

This isn't the first time the OPP have had to warn motorists of escaped bison in the region. That happened in 2022 as well, when eight bison wandered off of a ranch in Crystal Falls, near Sturgeon Falls.