Bison bother: N.W.T. residents say animals cause damage

The old cowboy song goes "Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam..." 

It sounds nice, until the buffalo damage your car.

Kevin Menicoche is the MLA for Nahendeh in the Northwest Territories. He says the animals have been bothering his constituents and can even be dangerous. 

Menicoche says more bison should be hunted.

"The bison have been digging up property, digging up gardens, ruining planted trees and being a significant hazard to the residents.  In fact one resident was literally trapped in her car as a large single male rested against her car door, damaging it and also trapping it inside.  She is elderly. Her friends and family fear she may be injured if this happens again," he told the NWT Legislative Assembly today.

Menicoche says he's received complaints from Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Lindberg Landing.

He's calling for the government to do an emergency cull or issue more hunting tags.

Fort Liard resident says people are scared

Hillary Deneron says bison roam around Fort Liard year-round. She says people are fed up. 

"They shoot pellet guns, (bear) bangers, even sling shots, people are even known to shoot 22s at them. It's just enough to get them off their property," she says.

Deneron says the animals rip up gardens and gather at a playground area outside the community. She says people don't take their children there. 

She's even had to call for help when a bison got so close it prevented customers from reaching her family's business, Liard Valley General Store and Motel.

One resident was literally trapped in her car as a large single male rested against her car door, damaging it and also trapping her inside.- Kevin Menicoche, MLA for Nahende 

Often, she says, the large animals just won't move. 

"Basically you have to drive right into them and nudge them along because they won't get off the road."

In the spring, the animals lick the salt right off vehicles, which is more than a nuisance in a community without an auto-body shop. 

"They'll rub up against your mirrors and they'll break your mirrors right off."

Few hunters interested in bison meat

Deneron says only a handful of people in the community eat bison meat. She says it's not considered a traditional food. Because of this, only a handful of people request tags.

She'd like to see community workshops to educate people on the benefits of bison meat: 

"Maybe help them open their eyes that it's cheaper, and healthier, a better choice I guess."

Responding to questions in the legislature, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger said a Bison Management Strategy should be finished early next year.

He says the NWT government might ask someone with a tag to harvest nuisance animals or hold an emergency cull.