Bison Up For Auction Near Cannon Ball

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — About 800 bison are being auctioned Saturday on a ranch in south central North Dakota, in one of the biggest such sales in the country this year.

The Bismarck Tribune reports Bev and Ernie Fischer are holding the auction at their ranch 35 miles south of Mandan. They're downsizing their herd to 200 choice breeding animals.

The sale comes during a time of what North Dakota Buffalo Association director Kevin Leier calls "unbelievable demand" for bison. He says demand has outstripped supply, and the Fischers' animals are likely to bring a premium price.

More than one-fourth of the nation's bison are raised in the Dakotas. South Dakota leads the nation in bison production, and North Dakota ranks seventh.