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I live in TX, and suffice to say we've got quite a few cows here. Well recently as I was heading home, I passed an adult cow walking along the side of the one (in the correct lane too!). I wasn't quite sure where to go because a couple people lived in the area and I wasn't quite sure if this was a cop thing or not. A got home shortly after the encounter and jumped on the net to find a resource for what to do if you see wandering life stock, and for the life of me I couldn't find a single thing. I ended up just calling the police and telling them about it. I'm not a big fan of cops so I sorta feel like the owner might catch some flak for it, but on the other hand cows are a pretty large investment so I'm sure he'd like to get the cow back while it's still alive and not lodged in someones car.

So yeah, it was an interesting experience. Stray livestock isn't exactly rare, and I would think there should be an easier way of determining what to do when the situation arises.

I've typically seen neighbors hold them for a certain period. Talking to the closest residences is my only guess if you're unfamiliar with the area. Those things can kill someone if they aren't paying attention when they're driving. (The person, not the cows.)

I feel bad for the local PD here...

Something like... 7 years ago a cow got out of the stockyards and they couldn't get it back in so the cops shot it.... about... 70 times. I think like 3 cops just unloaded on it before it died later of lead poisoning...

Next night the local news was doing a live story at the stockyards and another got out!

And a couple years after a 3rd got out and was running up the freeway (494 for those in MN).

We still have some goats that wander in the city, even though the stockyards are now gone. All of this took place... maybe 10 minutes from downtown St. Paul.

If it's a cow, shoot it. Seriously. feth cows.

Usually you call the Sheriff, failing that and the have and eartag call BLM who may give you the owners number.

There are a few dairy farms up where I grew up, and cows used to get lost every now and then. Usually, when we saw one we'd call the closest farmer and he'd come out and get it. It was usually his, but if it wasn't he'd know who it belonged to. When I was a little kid, a stray cow fell into our swimming pool. It took about twenty people and a lot of rope to get it out, and it shredded the liner in the process with all it's kicking and struggling.

Coolyo294 wrote:If it's a cow, shoot it. Seriously. feth cows.

Cows are expensive...

When we first moved to the Houston house, there were always cattle getting out on the side street. When riding ye old bicycle I had a calf and mother escort for about a mile. Excellent.