The bull bison that attacked and killed a 70-year-old woman in Custer State Park last month will not be euthanized.
Instead, he will live out the rest of his life in the care of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Game, Fish and Parks. The relocation will allow the bison to continue in his natural life in a secure environment away from the public.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe agency announced the decision Wednesday, which effectively lifts a death sentence for the bison.
The announcement followed fierce public debate over whether the bull should be put to death after it attacked and killed a 70-year-old Canadian tourist in Custer State Park last month.
Public Weighs In
Dave Scragg, a photographer who lives in Custer and frequently is in the area getting images of local wildlife, told Cowboy State Daily he’s heard rumors the bison was targeted to be put down.
He’s glad that won’t happen.
The South Dakota Governor’s Office did not confirm whether a kill order had been placed on the bison, nor did the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department.
When asked if he could confirm whether a kill order had been put in place, Nick Harrington, communications manager for the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department, said in a one-sentence email that “all options were being considered and evaluated.”
Scragg, believing along with many others that the bison was facing death, encouraged his followers on social media to plead with the South Dakota Governor’s Office, the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks and Custer State Park to not euthanize the bison.
“Our main goal was to save the animal,” he said, adding that people responded by calling officials with the state of South Dakota, Custer State Park and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Scragg said he doesn’t know how many people made calls, but he believes the public input made the difference and saved the bison’s life.
“When this all started, the word from the top was that putting this animal down was the plan,” he said in a statement. "We didn’t accept that, and we made sure our voices were loud enough to reach the people who could actually make a change.”
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Game, Fish, And Parks Takes Over
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Game, Fish, and Parks department extended its condolences to the family of the deceased woman.
It also acknowledged that bison are wild animals, and that the one who attacked her was “acting in accordance with its wild nature."
“We will honor both our cultural obligation to protect our relative and the need of keeping the public safe,” the tribe's statement reads.
Cowboy State Daily reached out to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Game, Fish, and Parks for comment but had not heard back by publication.
Chad Kremer, the bison herd manager for Custer State Park, thanked the tribe for providing a safe home for the bison, sharing on social media that he has been the “steward and caretaker for this bull’s journey of life thus far.”
“As a prey animal, unfortunately, pressure was placed on him that caused him to REACT, not attack, but he didn’t deserve to be destroyed,” he said.
Kremer declined to comment further to Cowboy State Daily pending approval of Custer State Park officials for him to speak to the press. Phone calls to Custer State Park were not returned prior to publication.
Scragg called the decision not to euthanize the animal a “total win for the community and a win for our wildlife.”
South Dakota Game, Fish, And Parks Respond
“Herd management decisions are made with public safety at the forefront, and we will continue to take necessary action to protect human life,” Harrington said in his statement.
The best management decision was to remove the bison from the park to ensure public safety, he said.
“We are grateful for Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s willingness to work with us to relocate the buffalo to a location that is suitable for the animal and away from interaction with the general public,” Harrington added.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
