Loose Livestock Safely Captured in Surprised Homeowners Backyard

At approximately 10:18 this morning, Texas State University sent out an emergency alert, warning students about a loose livestock on campus roaming near the Family and Consumer Science building.

The San Marcos Police Department, University Police Department and San Marcos Animal Control all took part in a search for the bull that was on the loose.

Scattered reports and sightings of the bull led authorities to search the Sessom Creek neighborhood, just North of campus.

Red and blue police lights were flashing on Canyon Fork, a signal that the bull had been found.

On Canyon Fork, beyond all of the residences, stood two police officers, an animal control officer, and the man responsible for the bull.

Their initial goal was to lure the bull into the nearest residents back yard, in order to hold the animal before they could

transport it.

Unfortunately the homeowner was not there, so the officers choose to proceed as planned.

The bull was tentative and distressed, cautiously watching all of the strangers, only allowing the man to get close enough to feed him.

One of the officers attempted to get behind the bull in order to usher the bull forward and towards the residence, in response the bull turned to face the officer.

Eventually the bull calmed down and followed the man into the back yard. The officers quickly closed the gate behind them, trapping the bull.

Next the officers had to figure out how to get the bull from the backyard into a trailer for transportation, a task considered difficult, until the homeowner arrived.

Sheila Torres-Blank arrived at her residence to witness a bull grazing in her backyard, and was glad to help the officers deal with the situation.

Torres-Blank was able to open the residence’s private gate allowing a trailer to be backed up straight to the gate.

After taking a lap of the backyard the bull went straight for the trailer and hopped in. The trailer was shut and the bull was captured.

The man responsible for the bull, who did not reveal his name, joked that he wouldn’t be taking the bull home. The bull would be going to the next livestock sale in Lockhart.