Billy The Bison Has Been Captured

WAUCONDA, IL —A 1,300-pound bison that escaped from a Wauconda farm late last year was safely and humanely removed early Wednesday morning from Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.

Officials believe it settled at Lakewood in early April. For the past several days, Lake County Forest Preserve officials worked with a professional livestock specialist from Illinois to capture the bison.

"We are thankful the animal has been removed from the forest preserve safely before Memorial Day weekend when attendance at preserves increases," said Mike Tully, chief operations officer for the Lake County Forest Preserves. "The safety of our users and the animal has been our No. 1 priority throughout this process. Bison are considered domestic livestock in Illinois, therefore roaming free in a public forest preserve is not an appropriate place for it to call home."

On Friday, Matt Noble, owner of Loose Cattle Caught, was brought in to assist with the capture. He utilized a crew of specialists, a drone, horse and dog in attempt to locate the bison.

Billy the Bison was located early Wednesday morning and Noble lightly tranquilized the animal. The tranquilizer did not put her in danger or make her fall to the ground. Its purpose was to slow her down. The bison slowly made its way to the barn for food and Noble was able to close the door, according to the Lake County Forest Preserve news release.

He backed his trailer into the barn and was able to relocate the bison to his compound where the animal is healthy and under observation, Tully said. Noble is in the process of contacting the owner of the bison.

Billy's owner, Scott Comstock, has tried unsuccessfully for months to retrieve Billy, who has been roaming the northwest suburbs since September. Comstock, the co-owner of Milk and Honey Farmstead in Wauconda, worked in recent weeks with forest preserve ranger police to lure the bison with food into a barn so it can be closed and taken back home.

"She is so smart and so alert that when you get close to the door, she beats you to it," Comstock told the Daily Herald.

Last week, John Tannahill, director of public safety at the Lake County Forest Preserves, said fines could be issued if he couldn't get the bison off the property. At the time, the animal had not approached any humans.

"However, with the busy summer season approaching, we have to get the bison off the property for everyone's safety," Tannahill said in a statement last week.

MORE ON PATCH

• Billy The Bison Spotted Near Her Farm, Being Lured With Food
• Forest Preserve Officials Urge Caution Amid Bison Sightings
• Will Billy The Bison Make It Home For The Holidays?
• Elusive Bison Still Roaming Free