But ranchers say yaks aren't nearly as hard to take care of as bison. And unlike bison, yak meat retains its juiciness despite being lean.

Horses now roam 40 acres east of Lake George, once home to Daryl Bessler's elk, bison and yak. This week, eight yak set off for new territory, with the exception of an obstinate bull "that met its ...

But bison remain wild animals while yaks were domesticated five to eight thousand years ago through cross-breeding with cattle. He said only about 1,000 wild yaks remain.