Elusive Bison Still Roaming Free

CARY, IL — Some call her Billy. Others refer to her as Tyson the Bison. But the bison, which has been roaming Lake and McHenry counties for three months following her daring escape from Milk & Honey Farmstead in Wauconda, has not yet been officially named, said Scott Comstock, owner of Milk & Honey Farm. And the male names might not work for the massive animal, which is a 1½-year-old female bison.

The bison escaped in September and has been on the lam since, evading capture by police and fire departments offering their assistance to help get her back home.

"It happened when we were unloading the bison at the farm and she got away," Comstock said. "It went through a big swamp area, and I met up with her on the other side. And then she looked at me and started walking toward [Route] 176. I followed her and she just looked at me and said, ‘See ya.'"

Bison, he said, are fast and can easily get away if they don't want to be caught. They are also surprisingly agile, can jump up to 5 feet in the air and are known to prance.

The bison has made a name for herself. Most recently, she's been spotted in Cary. Before that, she was seen in Island Lake and turned the heads of motorists as she darted down Route 176 during rush hour.

Police officers and firefighters have called the farm, offering their help in capturing the bison. There's been a concern that a distracted motorist may hit her while driving, since she's been spotted crossing several busy roadways.

In late November, an Island Lake police officer captured footage of the bison crossing Route 176.

"As elusive as Sasquatch himself, our beloved Island Lake bison was spotted a few days ago," according to a post on the Island Lake Facebook page. "Please drive carefully out there, folks and be aware that our friend the bison still roams free, living its best life. It lives, it laughs, it loves… be well, bison."

Last Thursday, the bison reportedly left the Island Lake area and was spotted in Cary.

Cary Police Department Deputy Chief Scott Nayendoff told Patch they received a report of a driver who nearly hit the bison on East Main Street east of Decker Drive on Nov. 30.

"Our officers responded to the area and did not locate a buffalo. We also made the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office aware of the report," he said. Since then, there have been a couple reports in unincorporated Cary east of Decker and Montana drives.

Comstock said the hope initially was to keep her escape quiet, but those who've spotted her have taken to social media to share pictures. The Cary-Grove Chat Facebook page has included several updates on the bison in recent days, including pictures of those who've driven by her or spotted her in their yard.

Some have chased her. That is a bad idea, Comstock said.

The bison is docile but could become aggressive if she feels threatened. If she's spotted out in public, it's because she wants to be seen. Bison are herd animals, and she's likely lonely.

"People should keep their distance and not chase her around," he said. "Don't get too close to her, she's just doing her thing."

Milk & Honey Farmstead bought the bison and her half-sister in September. They plan to use the bison for educational purposes; the farm hosts educational programs for children from the city, Comstock said.

At some point, the bison will be used for breeding, but the farmstead has no plans of slaughtering the animal.

As for capturing her, Comstock is now waiting for the first snowfall, since it will be easier to track her footprints in the snow. From there, the hope is to lure her into a barn or building and close the door before returning her to the farm.

"Our hope is that we are able to bring her in without having her hurt or hurting anyone else," Comstock said.