Local
Marshfield police warn drivers as loose cow and bull keep dodging capture near Route 3A
A black cow and bull have been evading Marshfield police for days, repeatedly wandering onto Route 3 and Route 3A and ducking into thick woods. Police set up a corral with food Friday and hope to capture the animals Saturday.
MARSHFIELD â Police are urging drivers to use extra caution after a loose cow and bull spent days dodging capture and repeatedly wandering onto busy local roadways.
The two all-black cattle, which police have nicknamed Bessie and Clyde, were first reported loose Thursday in the area of Ferry and Main streets, according to the Marshfield Police Department. By Friday, both animals remained at large and had been spotted frequently on local roads, creating a hazard for motorists.
Police said the cattle have been coming out onto Route 3 at Main Street and then retreating into the woods, where they hide in thick brush. Officers have been unable to get close to them.
"They're pretty elusive and pretty fast," police said in an update.
The animals' dark coloring makes them especially hard to see after dark or in rainy conditions, police noted. Friday brought heavy rain to the region, further reducing visibility.
Drivers are being asked to be particularly cautious along Route 3A between the Marshfield Fairgrounds, St. Christine's Church and the VFW.
Efforts to corral the animals continued Friday, when police set up a pen baited with food. Authorities said they hope to capture the cattle on Saturday and return them to their owners. It remains unclear how the animals escaped in the first place.
Police are asking anyone who spots the cow or bull on or near a roadway not to approach them, but to call the Marshfield Police Department at 781-834-6655 with the animals' location.
The wandering livestock add a note of unpredictability to a stretch of road already challenging for drivers in wet weather. Until the pair is secured, police say the safest course for motorists is to slow down and stay alert, especially along Route 3A and near the Route 3 interchange at Main Street.