UPDATE 4 p.m. Wednesday: Authorities have found the cow, according to York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shelley Ward.
Update 8 p.m. Wednesday: Victoria Nation, a West Point resident and animal rescuer with the Grateful Meadows animal sanctuary, contracted the services of two Virginia companies to capture the cow, according to a Facebook post from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
Nation will have the option to adopt the male cow after a required holding period, which will give its former owner a chance to claim it. It is estimated to be younger than six months old and is now on Nation’s farm.
Nation told the sheriff’s office that she will keep the name Ferdinand if she is able to adopt the cow.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help cover the costs of Ferdinand’s capture and veterinary care.
Original story:
Authorities are looking for an “elusive bovine” who has been seen in the woods near Penniman Road in York County.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office and animal control are working to locate and capture the cow, which is black with a white head, after it was spotted several times in the county, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook post.
According to Lt. Jeff Kerr, police began receiving calls reporting the stray cow on Dec. 30. He said there are no definitive answers as to where the cow came from. It does appear to have tags on its ears, he added.
“It’s not just the welfare of the animal, but also public safety,” Kerr said. “I would hate for that cow to roam into an area like the road and have a resident hit it.”
A sergeant with the sheriff’s office put several bales of hay near where they believe the cow has been bedding down at night, with the hopes to keep it away from the road, the post said. The sergeant has nicknamed the cow “Ferdinand.”
Police ask any resident who sees the cow to call 911 immediately and report its location.
Once captured, the cow will be taken to a rescue facility.
