Ranch claims ownership of wandering bison

CRESWELL, Ore., March 25 (UPI) -- The owners of an Oregon ranch claimed ownership of a free-roaming bison herd on their land and said they plan to round up and sell some of the animals.

Debbie Wolf of Creswell said her father, James Smejkal, is claiming ownership of the 50-strong herd on his Wallowa County ranch after a ranch representative earlier denied any connection to the bovines, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Thursday.

"The basic herd stays on the property almost entirely," she said. "Every once in a while they break through a fence and off they go. Buffalo fences aren't that easy to keep up. We've tried."

Wolf said her father, who is currently vacationing in Mexico, is planning to round up some of the animals in the spring for a potential sale.

The bison herd escaped captivity about eight years ago and has more than doubled in size, Wolf said. The bison have been seen wandering as far as the town of Troy.