Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Oct 27/00) - Hamlet council wants bison to back off in Fort Providence.

The animals have knocked down a fence at the health centre and caused traffic disruptions.

Mayor Jim Thom said they cause problems every year, but seem to be more of a nuisance as their numbers grow.

"It used to be that we only had one herd, about a dozen of them. Now with small calves there are about two dozen," he said. "We've got to somehow find a solution or look at some ways to resolve it."

Among the possible measures would be a public education campaign, encouraging residents to cut the grass regularly in the community. Controlled burns on the edge of town could also be conducted, adds Thom.

Fighting for the right to shoot the bison in town would be a last resort, he said.

Evelyn Krutko, a renewable resources officer in Fort Providence, said tall grass in some of the private and public lots in the community likely attract the bison. She agrees with the idea of keeping grass short and burning some areas.

She said bison, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, are generally timid around humans, but are unpredictable, wild animals.

The bison were introduced to the Fort Providence area through the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary in the 1960s, and Thom doesn't regret the program.

"It provides food to the community members. Members have always had a lot of respect for them," he said. "We'd like to take care of them, but when they become a nuisance we have to have some type of plan to keep them off the community."

Members of the hamlet council have met with senior RWED officials and the local resource management authority to formulate strategies.

Also of concern is the safety of motorists, who have been known to collide with the massive animals. There have been a few accidents involving bison near the community over the past couple of months. Krutko said there are many small herds from the Mackenzie ferry crossing to about 100 kilometres north of Fort Providence. People have to drive cautiously, particularly at night, she said.

"Actually I went to Yellowknife last week and they have posted many more signs along the highway from Edzo towards Providence (warning) of bison," she said. "Maybe that might slow it down, too."