Long Island's Bison Farm

John Mitty Tuesday, August 6, 2013

To many East Coast residents, bison are a symbol of the American West—and the past.  There were once 60 million bison on the North American plains, but once Europeans moved into the area, they hunted the majestic animals almost to the point of extinction.  There are more than 650 thousand bison in America now though, and it’s thanks in part to farmers like Ed Tuccio on Long Island, who has around 300 on his own 250 acres of farmland. 

It might surprise a Long Islander to find a herd of bison roaming on ranchland which is just an hour and a half away from Manhattan, the bustling center of business at the heart of America, but Tuccio says he “instantly fell in love” with bison while driving in Colorado on a ski trip.  Tuccio purchased two pregnant bison from Custer State Park in the Black Hills.  While he sells bison meat to support his ranch, his primary purpose is breeding and selection.  Bison meat has become popular in recent years, which ironically has contributed to repopulation of the herds.  Tuccio uses no steroids, growth hormones or antibiotics to raise his bison.  While visiting the area, you can enjoy a meal at Tuccio’s Riverhead restaurant, Tweeds Restaurant and Buffalo Bar.  At the farm, you can see the beautiful animals themselves—a rare sight on the East Coast.  

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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