(WWJ) It's one of those things you have to see to believe, so it's a good thing it was caught on camera.
The Michigan State Police on Monday released video footage of a man on horseback chasing down and lassoing a bovine running loose on I-75, in northern Oakland County.
According to the MSP Second District, troopers were called to help with traffic control along I-75, near Belford Rd., after a "runaway cow" was spotted near the freeway.
"A team of wranglers comprised of men and women comparable to the cast of Yellowstone attempted to wrangle a cow that was stuck in a gravel pit on Belford Rd. Troopers stayed on standby to stop traffic on I 75 if necessary," MSP said.
The wranglers were on the shoulder of I-75 with horses and four-wheelers when they tried, and initially failed to capture the large animal.
MSP said the bovine managed to outsmart the wranglers, running out onto the northbound freeway. "The wranglers chased the cow with four wheelers, horses, and lassos across all lanes of travel," MSP said.
That's when troopers shut down both north and southbound I-75 for safety.
Eventually "after much tom foolery," MSP said, the critter was captured — lassoed by a cowboy on horseback — and removed to safety.
According to a Facebook post by The Devoted Barn on Monday, the animal wrangled on the freeway is in fact Lester — an escaped steer that had been running wild in the Holly area for more than a month.
In a video posted to Facebook, Melissa Borden of The Devoted Barn thanked MSP and all those who assisted in capturing Lester.
"Everyone's fine; everyone definitely got some bumps and bruises...Lester definitely gave it his all," Bordon said. "I think he's enjoyed his little six week vacation. He definitely gave everyone a run for their money, but these guys were incredible, and I'm so grateful."
Another video shows Lester back in his pen, enthusiastically chowing down on his dinner.
"Lester is safe, off the highway, and he is happy," said Bordon.
"I don't know if he's happy," she laughed. "He's secure. No, he's definitely settling in, he was happily eating grain, he was definitely happy to see his buddies."
This all comes after just how Lester escaped, and who is to blame, was the subject of debate and some friction between animal rescue groups. Read more about that here.
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