Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Jan 04/02) - Unusually deep snow in the Fort Liard area is hampering bison in their quest for sustenance, says Acho Dene honourary chief Harry Deneron.

Honourary chief Harry Deneron: 'They're dragging their bellies through the snow.' - NNSL file photo

He added the mighty beasts, which can weigh up to 900 kilograms, are having a hard time getting at the vegetation beneath the snow. Consequently they have resorted to eating willows and tamarack.

"Normally they don't eat stuff like that ... I've never seen anything like it," he said. "I don't even know how they're going to survive... it's just an awful sight."

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, bison eat 1.6 per cent of their body mass per day, on average.

Deneron said he planned to return with a bale of hay for the bison after visiting Fort St. John, B.C.

Staff from the Department of Wildlife in Fort Liard could not be reached for comment before press time.

Walking made difficult

Not only has the heavy snow made it difficult for bison to find food, Deneron said they are also struggling to trudge through it.

"We have a wind storm and snow storm here every night for the last few nights," he said in December.

"Those buffalo, people are telling me, they're having so hard of a time. They're dragging their bellies through the snow ... there's no frost underneath the snow, to make it worse."

The mounting snow, and resulting lack of mobility, may have contributed to an incident Deneron observed a couple of kilometres from the community. He saw a cow huddled over a calf that had apparently been attacked by wolves.

Although the young one was dead, the mother was still attempting to protect it and keep it warm, he said.

"It was really sad," he said.