A herd of cows is escaping so often in Penobscot County that the unorganized territory director asked county commissioners for advice on how to handle the problem.
The four Scottish Highland cows have escaped their pen about once a week for the last eight months, Penobscot County Unorganized Territory Director George Buswell said.
They wander into the road — Route 169, which has a speed limit of 45 mph — and demolish neighbors’ properties in Prentiss. The cows are traffic hazards, especially at night when it’s hard to see the animals. Three of the female cows are about 1,700 pounds and a calf is about 500 pounds, he said.
A fifth cow was euthanized after it attacked its owner, breaking the man’s ribs.
“We’ve got pictures of the cows everywhere except in their pens,” he said.
While escaped cows are a fairly regular occurrence in rural Maine, it’s the first time animal control in the unorganized territories has dealt with an ongoing problem that requires outside help. The occasional cow or horse escapes, but it’s usually an accident and the owner takes responsibility, Buswell said.
Busell brought the issue to Penobscot County commissioners during their Tuesday meeting, asking for advice and their support for next steps. The cows escape through the electric fences weekly. A person or cow is going to get hurt if it continues this way, Buswell said.
The owner is liable for damage the cows cause when they leave the property, commissioners said. The county is considering next steps and is discussing the issue with its legal department.
A wife and husband own the Highland cows. The county thought it had a solution when the couple tried to sell the cows, but they were asking for $20,000 for the lot, while cattle dealers in the area were offering around $5,000 for the four cows, Busell said.
Commissioners are supportive of Buswell taking necessary steps to get control of the cows, Andre Cushing said at the meeting.
The issue came to a head over the weekend when the tropical storm knocked out power in the area, leaving the cows to wander and stand in the road.
When the cows escape, they trample neighbors’ yards, eating grass, decorative bushes, flowers and even apple trees, Buswell said. While safety is the biggest concern, destruction of property is problematic as well.
The cows don’t care who owns the property, “they’re just out there eating,” Buswell said.
The cows have adequate food and shelter, so the state of Maine will not intervene, but Maine State Police have assisted in corralling the animals.
Highland cows are known for being “even-tempered” and are recognizable by their long horns and long red hair, according to Oklahoma State University.
Buswell declined to share the photos of the escaped cows and the name of the owner as the county works to reach a resolution.
