White bison birth a symbol of hope

The Native Americans believed the birth of a white bison meant that good fortune and prosperity would come.

Corey Koberstein said it might sound cliche, but he’s hoping that amidst a worldwide pandemic, good fortune and prosperity will come to not only his family but also the entire community.

Koberstein and his family witnessed the rare birth of a white male bison on their farm Saturday, April 18.

“I’m still shocked,” he said Monday.

The calf, named Leonidas, was born to Lola, a white female who was bred to a brown male.

“A white cow doesn’t guarantee a white calf — ever,” said Koberstein.

This is Lola’s fourth calf, and the other three were all brown. She has a recessive white gene — not to be confused with albino bison — so it was just “luck of the genetic lottery” that this calf was white, said Koberstein.

He said that Lola actually went into labor on Thursday during the snowstorm, but she was able to delay the delivery until nicer weather.

All bison calves have a little bit of white in their coloring, said Koberstein, but when he saw the white hooves poke out during the delivery, he got very excited. Just like brown calves, Leonidas has an orange tint, which will go away as he gets older.

Koberstein bought Lola almost seven years ago when he started his bison herd, and he was beginning to think he would never see her give birth to a white calf. It must be his lucky day.