The herd of bison that escaped from a Schodack farm and caused havoc for residents in South Bethlehem and Coeymans, are now dead more eight hours later.
In all, 15 bison were killed.
Prophetically, the owner of the animals said his bison would “never” be corralled.
The first shots were fired shortly after 1: 30 p.m. Within an hour, Albany County Sheriff’s Craig Apple said they were all dead.
An unidentified man was taken into custody by Albany County Sheriffs shortly after the shooting began. According to Apple, he specifically ordered the `hired guns` to kill an injured bison that appeared to be suffering after it was shot. However, the man allegedly proceeded to fire upon more animals, and without successfully euthanizing the first one. No charges have been made as of yet.
“It was turning into the wild, wild west. It was turning into a spectacle and it was time to end it,” said Apple. At 1:39, Apple said the animals were ordered to put down.
Tom Gallager, a large animal expert from Cornell Cooperative Extension, explained tranquilizers were never a practical option, nor was corralling them. Tranquilizers can only be used when in range of 30 feet. No one was able to get close enough to the animals and because such a large dose need to be used, the animals typically die anyway.
`It’s safer to use,` said Gallager of the tranquilizers. `We would have if we were in a residential area.`
George Mesick, owner of GEM Farms Buffalo in Schodack, said the same earlier this morning. The adrenaline in the 1,100-pound animals would offset any amount of sedative. Speaking with reporters Mesick expressed more concern over the potential liability from the incident than the financial loss from losing the bison.
Bethlehem Police Lt. Thomas Heffernan said the situation turned into a public hazard once they escaped over the New York state Thruway. Earlier in the day, Heffernan expressed concern because the animals, which can travel up to 40 mph, grew unpredictable the longer they were away from their pens.
Heffernan said the Bethlehem Police were given permission to shoot the animals earlier in the morning, but they did not feel comfortable. They waited to confer with state veterinarians, and for the owner of the animals to arrive on scene.
No accidents occurred on the Thruway, but a number of cars and tractor-trailers slowed to a stop.
Selkirk resident Andrew Broadhurst said he was talking about news coverage of the bison with a friend as they watched from Route 9W, when they found themselves within 300 yards of the herd.
“We saw a herd of buffalo coming down 9W. They hauled ass up there, then hauled ass over there (proceeding west behind Miller Road heading towards South Street,` Broadhurst said.
The ordeal started Thursday afternoon when the herd of bison escaped from GEM Farms in Schodack.. They are believed to have crossed a railway and swam the span of the Hudson River to Selkirk. River Road residents then reported the herd near the intersection of River Road and Maple Avenue at approximately 6 a.m. the following morning. Within hours, Bethlehem Police employed the services of several agencies to assist in corralling the animals. Initial efforts appeared to be successful as they were kept near the banks of the Hudson River in a wooded area.
However, at approximately 11:30 a.m. the animals reappeared from behind a Peltz Road home and crossed River Road. They approached a wire fence that ran along the length of the state Thruway and appeared to turn back around before being met by a throng of law enforcement officers, reporters and curious neighbors. There were nearly 100 people watching in all. That is when the herd jumped the fence and ultimately crossed the thruway.
The bison traveled approximately seven miles before they were met in a ravine at the Feuri Spruyt, south of Bridge Street in Selkirk.
It is now the owner’s responsibility to remove the dead animals.
