Update (Nov. 30): The cows have been captured.
Original story (Nov. 28):
DRYDEN, N.Y.—Three feeder cattle — or weaned calves — are loose in the normally quiet rural town of Dryden. News of the bovines’ escape has caused some slight disruptions at nearby Dryden Elementary School.
The calves have been at large for over a week. They escaped from the Empire Livestock Marketing auction house in the Village of Dryden on Nov. 20 at about 4:20 p.m., according to auction house owner Heidi Nicholas.
Nicholas said that four calves escaped while they were being delivered and unloaded into the auction house, one of which has since been captured.
“The farmer that brought them in with a trucker [had] actually opened the gate and didn’t realize that his trucker had pulled away from the dock,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas said auction house employees are “not turning a blind eye” to the situation and have been working through Thanksgiving and the weekend to capture the loose cattle. She said two have black coats, and one is tan and belted.
Nicholas said Empire Livestock Marketing is working with the Village of Dryden police to track down the rogue calves. Unfortunately, there are few leads to go off of at the moment.
“We have no idea where they are,” Village of Dryden Police Department Chief Josh Tagliavento said Tuesday. Although, he’s “pretty sure” the calves are no longer in the Village of Dryden.
“We believe that they’re not in the village because I’m pretty sure if there were three cows walking around, we probably would have gotten the call,” Tagliavento said.
The calves were reportedly last seen in front of the Dryden Fire House Monday evening, where an attempt to lure them into captivity with a bucket of sweet feed failed.
The news of cattle on the loose in Dryden was spread by the Dryden Central School District (DSCD) in an announcement on Instagram Tuesday, but the school district said that the three young cattle were wild bulls that would charge if approached.
“The bulls should not be approached,” DSCD said in its announcement. “Leave your red cape at home.”
Empire Livestock Marketing’s auction house is just a short walk away from Dryden Elementary School, and DCSD moved to bring recess indoors “out of an abundance of caution.”
However, it appears that officials in the school district misunderstood the situation. Nicholas said the cattle her employees and her are tracking down are not bulls, but weaned calves, and are likely about 18 months old and just between 600 pounds and 800 pounds.
“When you say a bull, probably the general public would think, ‘Oh, my God, there’s a 2000-pound bull running around the neighborhood,’” Nicholas said. “No, that’s not the case.”
DCSD officials were not available to comment ahead of publication, but DCSD updated its statement Tuesday after being contacted by the Village of Dryden Police Department and Empire Livestock Marketing.
“Apparently, the bovine that escaped were incorrectly identified as bulls and are in fact feeder cows,” the update said.
DSCD said it intends to keep activities at Dryden Elementary indoors for the remainder of Tuesday, “but most likely will resume normal activities tomorrow, while just keeping an eye out for the three ‘musketeers.’”
Nicholas described the young cattle as skittish.
“They’re more afraid of you than you would be of them,” Nicholas said.“[But] certainly, everyone should be cautious.”
Nicholas encouraged anyone who catches sight of the calves to contact her directly. The Village of Dryden Police Department is also seeking information.
Heidi Nicholas, owner of Empire Livestock Marketing: 315-985-5110
Village of Dryden Police Department non-emergency number: 607-844-8118
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