By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

A 3-year-old white bison named Ghostbuster joined the heard at Frontier Park in Hays Thursday morning.

The white bison is from Ginther Farms, which raises bison across western Kansas and eastern Colorado for the restaurant industry.

The bison had no name prior to its arrival to Hays, but Brent Ginther of Ginther Farms indicated city crews said they may name the bison Ghostbuster.

Ghostbuster, which weighs about 650 pounds, carries a recessive gene that causes her coat to be light blonde or white instead of the dark brown of most bison.

Ginther said a white bison occurs once in about every 600,000 births. Because Ghostbuster carries the recessive gene, it is likely she will have a white offspring.

“It was pretty exciting the day she was born.” Ginther said. “I have been even more excited to see her grow up.”

Ghostbuster will be ready to breed in July and should have her calf here in Hays.

Ginther Farms has provided other members of the Hays bison herd, and usually purchases the city’s calves.

“I thought it would be good for the City of Hays to have a white buffalo for people to view,” Ginther said.

Ginther said he had a good working relationship with the city, and Ghostbuster can remain with her new herd as long as the arrangement is good for the bison and the city.

The rest of the members of the Hays bison herd were a bit shy of the newcomers when she was first released into the bison enclosure about 10 a.m. Thursday. The current bison herd ran in circles around the pen.

However, they soon warmed to Ghostbuster and could be seen feeding together in the pasture.