The annual bison auction at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is underway but is being held virtually this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Forest Service holds the auction every year to reduce the size of bison herds in LBL.
LBL officials say prospective bidders can access the auction and view preliminary details regarding the age, sex, and weight of each bison to be sold by visiting a link provided in this story on our websites. Prospective bidders can access the auction and view preliminary details regarding the age, sex, and weight of each bison to be sold by visiting http://www.bison.gesture.com/ . They add bidders are urged to view the photos, videos, and information provided on the auction website by clicking here. as there will be no on-site previewing of the animals.
The Forest Service will sell approximately 42 bison, each separately to the highest bidder(s), including:
-14 heifer and 8 bull calves born in 2020
-4 breeding age cows born in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2018 (3 tested are pregnant)
-9 heifers and 6 bull yearlings born in 2019
-1 bull born 2018
According to officials, all animals will be tested for brucellosis and tuberculosis by a licensed veterinarian prior to the auction. Buyers are responsible for knowing import regulations of the home state and specific vaccination requirements before purchasing bison.
Due to the size and temperament of bison, closed-topped trailers or vehicles are required to transport the bison. Once bison step off the loading chute and into a buyer’s trailer, the animal becomes the property and responsibility of the buyer.
The online auction opened this past Saturday and continues until 6:00 Saturday evening.
Land Between the Lakes manages two herds of American Bison. All bison bloodlines at the recreation area originated from three sources—in 1969 from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota; in 1988 and 2012 from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska; and in 1996 from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota.
Those with questions may contact Curtis Fowler, wildlife technician at Land Between the Lakes, by phone at 270-924-2061 and you can leave a message, or you can send him an email at frederick.fowler@usda.gov.
