It's been a tough summer for the Fargo-Moorhead bison statues.
They've been knocked over, kicked around and - by one account - thwacked with a skateboard.
But now, after two suspects were cited for damaging three bison in one night, Martha Olsen is hopeful the fiberglass works created by area artists can weather the remainder of their public showing unmolested.
"I haven't had any report since those incidents," Olsen said, referring to three bison toppled in Moorhead during the early hours of July 3.
Olsen, director of the Lake Agassiz Arts Council, sponsor of the public art display, said the July 3 tipping spree involved a figure at the Moorhead Center Mall and two statues thought to be safe behind the fence of the Rourke Art Museum.
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Two pedestrians stopped a Moorhead police officer on patrol that morning and told him they saw two men knock over a statue outside the Center Mall. The witnesses said one of the men pounded on the downed bison with a skateboard, according to the police report on the incident.
The witnesses later heard a loud noise come from the museum and saw one suspect crawl out from beneath the museum fence, behind which two bison were found on their sides.
The investigating officer spotted two men matching descriptions provided by the witnesses and questioned them.
The suspects, both of whom denied knocking over statues, received citations for misdemeanor criminal damage to property and were given August court appearances in Clay County District Court. They were identified in the police report as Michael Joseph McGregor, 22, and Joshua James Langstaff, 23, both of Fargo.
Twelve of the 43 full-sized bison figures set up around the Fargo-Moorhead area have been vandalized since earlier this summer, Olsen said.
Most cases involved tippings, but sculptures have also been punched, kicked and bashed with objects, she said.
Some incidents occurred after the Arts Council spent thousands of dollars to add concrete weights to the plates the animals stand on.
A few sculptures were moved to avoid further trouble. Bison that stood in Lindenwood Park and Trollwood Park now share the civic green in downtown Fargo with a third figure.
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Excluding 10 statues that presold for $8,000 each, the works on public display will be put up for auction Sept. 9 at the Fargodome, with the proceeds going to support the Arts Council.
Olsen said she has growing confidence the beasts will make it to market in good shape.
"There is increased police surveillance of the bison in all communities," she said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
