The Orcas Island Historical Museum and Poppie’s Yarns are looking for adventurous knitters. Volunteers will knit one or more “patches” that will be pieced together to form a woolly coat for a near life-size mockup of the museum’s famous Orcas Island ice-age Bison antiquus.

This project will result in a three-dimensional Bison antiquus replica that will kick off fundraising on Nov. 1 for a professionally designed museum diorama. The diorama will tell the story of Orcas Island’s ice age mammals and the early hunters who followed them across Orcas to Vancouver Island.

The Orcas bison has been carbon dated to 11,760 years old, a date that has astonished archaeologists world wide – not because of the age of the bison, but because of evidence that humans hunted the seven-foot tall beasts right here on Orcas Island over 11,000 years ago. Research archaeologists will present the newest information to the public at Orcas Center, 2 p.m., Sunday Nov. 2.

So grab those fat needles, and call the Museum, 376-4849, to register as a Bison Knitter, urges Museum Director Micki Ryan. Yarn is provided by the Museum and may be picked up at Poppie’s Yarns in Eastsound by Friday, Oct. 3, to those who sign up. A model for the finished Bison is on display at Poppie’s. Andrea Cohen is Volunteer Bison Knitting Coordinator, and may be reached at 376-7577 for any knitting information.

All Bison pieces must be received by end of day Oct. 30.