A water buffalo that escaped from its pen in Iowa on Friday remains on the lam – even though it’s been shot at least once.
The animal, which is on the loose in Pleasant Hill, has been spotted in several residents’ backyards since its escape, authorities say.
Although police officers caught up with the buffalo on Saturday and tried to guide it back to its owner’s house, the animal resisted and turned on the officers, according to the Pleasant Hill Police Department.
"It became aggressive and the Pleasant Hill P.D. fired one shotgun round, striking and injuring the animal," reads a statement issued by police.
"The water buffalo fled and was last seen in Little Fourmile Creek heading southbound in the vicinity of Scott Ave and Oakwood Blvd."
Now Pleasant Hill police have called in the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which was scheduled to perform an aerial drone search for the animal on Tuesday.
They’re also canvassing the area on ATVs in hopes of finding the water buffalo.
"The safety of the Pleasant Hill community is the top priority,” police say. "With a dangerous animal loose in our community, we are using all resources available to keep our community safe.”