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While we are not hearing the strange sounds of the apocalypse here in the north, more worrisome events are taking place.
Just south of my location is Fort Providence, NWT which is home to a herd of 600 Wood Bison (Buffalo). Well, it was home to 600.
I began hearing of another outbreak of anthrax in the bison herd. Nothing really that unusual for this part of the world.
It wasn’t until 2 weeks later that I realized the scope of what had happened. Presently they have found 429 bison dead from what officials are assuming is Anthrax. (I say “assuming” because no official reports have been made publicly yet)
In years previous, anthrax outbreaks would happen occasionally. Those outbreaks usually kill 10 – 20 animals. In fact, this recent outbreak has set the record for deaths. The last big outbreak killed 172 animals, so this dwarfs that comparison.
After talking with a few people, the general concensus is that this outbreak is most likely the result of the abnormally warm winter and spring here north of 60. As the permafrost melts away, more anthrax spores surface. The bison like to roll and dig in the dirt, thus becoming infected with anthrax.