Ho-Chunk Tribe Selling Wisconsin Bison Herds-too expensive to raise and keep

[The Straight Story]

Ho-Chunk Tribe Selling Wisconsin Bison Herds


LA CROSSE, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Ho-Chunk Indian tribe is selling its bison herds in Wisconsin, saying the animals are too expensive to raise and keep. The herd project began in 1997, in an effort to provide healthier meat for tribal members suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other effects of obesity.

Henning Garvin of the Ho-Chunk heritage preservation department says the tribe does not have enough land in one area for the bison to roam properly – and they’ve become too expensive to keep up.

The tribe used to have about 300 bison, but they’re down to about 90 head now. They’re expected to be sold off this week, along with 95 head of regular beef cattle. Garvin said it was a tough decision to get rid of the bison – an animal that has meant so much in Ho-Chunk traditions. They hope the economy will improve to the point in which the herds can come back someday.

http://www.whbl.com/news/articles/2010/apr/15/ho-chunk-tribe-selling-wisconsin-bison-herds/

[hlthe2b]

1. I would love to see a pact developed between tribes and

the Feds to allow large swaths of open prairie land in Wyoming, North and SOuth Dakota, Montana to be repopulated with bison, to allow the neighboring tribes to oversee management and allow first dibs within the compact for the meat. I think this effort is worth supporting, but it will take some Federal help.

[Swamp Rat]

2. damn!!!

:(