Billy The Bison Debacle Heads To Court

LAKE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES, IL — The saga of Billy the Bison started in September 2021 when the massive animal broke free while being transferred to a farm in Wauconda. Now, the debacle has landed in court.

Scott Comstock, co-owner of Milk & Honey Farmstead in Wauconda, is scheduled for a bench trial in the case in February. He is accused of letting Billy wander and graze on Lake County Forest Preserve District property.

Meanwhile, Comstock and his attorney, David Spada, have appeared for a handful of hearings regarding the animal in recent months. Comstock is accused of violating a forest preserve ordinance, which makes it illegal to bring or allow any cows, sheep, goats, swine or other livestock — including bison — to remain on forest preserve property, according to court documents.

But Comstock says he should not be held liable for the fines incurred during the animal's eight months on the run in the northwest Chicago suburbs. And he also does not think he should have to pay for the costs associated with capturing Billy.

According to Comstock, he never actually owned the animal so Billy was not his responsibility.

Comstock claims a farmer in Wisconsin brought Billy and Billy's sister to his farm in September 2021, but he never paid for Billy. When Billy escaped during the transfer, the farmer in Wisconsin, who Comstock refuses to name, told Comstock if he captured the animal it was his, Comstock said.

"I never paid for it. I never actually owned Billy," he said of the bison.

After escaping and bolting down Route 176, Billy went on an eight-month jaunt across the densely populated northwest suburbs, making guest appearances in backyards and crossing highways. Billy sightings were shared on social media and in Chicago-area newscasts.

"She almost was a distraction from COVID. And so it did a lot of good," Comstock told Patch Wednesday. "We have heard some incredible stories from people who interacted with her...

"Some people told me that 'that bison saved my life.' They were so depressed at home, and it gave them something to do and think about. One woman told me she was watching TV, and she wasn't sure if she was hallucinating when she saw a reflection of a monster bison and there was Billy outside her window. She said it's the greatest thing she's ever seen."

In early May 2022, officials with the Lake County Forest Preserve District learned Billy had wandered onto the property at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda and made the area her home for about a month.

In a May 3 letter from the forest preserve district, Comstock was ordered to get Billy off the property by the end of the day on May 6.

"The district has been patient with your attempts to capture the animal and has assisted the process when possible," wrote John Tannahill, forest preserve district director of public safety, in the May 3 letter. "Lakewood has become more active with people using the trails and area due to the change in seasons." In the interest of "public safety," Comstock needed to have the animal off the property or face daily citations and fines, which could be up to $500 per day.

Comstock said he worked with employees with the forest preserve in May to coax Billy into a building on the property.

After months of trying to capture her, Comstock came close enough to touch Billy but was not able to coax her into the enclosure where he planned to trap the massive animal before finally bringing her back to his farm.

"She was standing right in front of me at one point, and she was very healthy. Farmers told me they put out bags of feed out for her every day and she must've put on about 200 pounds, she was fat," Comstock said. "She was taken care of by a lot of people, and a lot of people loved that animal."

On May 20, forest preserve district officials brought in Matt Noble, of Noble Farms & Loose Cattle Caught of Poplar Grove, to capture Billy, according to court documents.

"Matt called me about 45 minutes later, I was still driving home, and told me Billy was captured," Comstock said. Comstock told Noble he could stop by with Billy and drop her back off at his farm. Noble demanded Comstock first pay for his services.

"I got in touch with Matt Noble, who had the bison, to see what was going on, so Matt talked to me one time, and he told me he wouldn't release the bison without proof of ownership and being. paid," Spada said. "But Scott never owned the bison."

Comstock also claims he never hired Noble, and that Noble threatened to kill Billy if he wasn't paid.

Noble denies ever threatening to kill the bison.

"I'm in the animal capture business, and I take pride in capturing an animal alive," he said.

In July, Spada filed a motion, which was later granted in Lake County Circuit Court, requiring Noble not to harm the bison and to ensure the bison is "properly nourished, contained and undergoes a preventative health program," according to court documents.

Up until two weeks ago, Noble cared for the animal while she was "stuck in legal limbo because Comstock refused to pay his bill."

"In the best interest of the animal, we were working with Lake County to get her placed with a native tribe where she could live," Noble said. Billy has since been transferred to live with a herd of buffalo on a Native American reservation, Noble said.

Noble says he was shocked by Comstock's allegations against him and has always been paid for his services. He's partnered with about 100 farmers in the past 15 years and has captured nearly 150 animals, he told Patch Wednesday.

He said most farmers are relived to have their animals back home and off the streets, which can be a liability concern.

"If you don't have the ability to contain these animals, and you don't have the ability to capture them, you problem shouldn't own them," he said. "They are not a pet."

MORE ON PATCH

• Billy The Bison Spotted Near Her Farm, Being Lured With Food
• Billy The Bison Spotted Six Months After Her Escape
• Billy The Bison Has Been Captured
• Elusive Bison Still Roaming Free
• Forest Preserve Officials Urge Caution Amid Bison Sightings