On a dark and stormy night, a loose cow that evaded capture for two months was finally wrangled in Bellingham.
Mabel the brown cow, who captured the hearts of many Bellinghamsters (and the ire of a certain Hammer), was caught by Whatcom Humane Society staff and volunteers late Friday evening, Oct. 18. A video posted to Facebook just after midnight Saturday, Oct. 19, showed a white pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer.
“[Mabel] was successfully contained and transported to our farm facility late Friday night,” according to the social media post.
The bovine had been on the lam since early August when she and a fellow cow got loose from a livestock trailer near the intersection of East Sunset Drive and Hannegan Road. While law enforcement and the cows’s owners were able to wrangle Mabel’s escape partner within a few hours, Mabel remained free.
In early October, after nearly two months of Mabel’s owner trying and failing to capture her, WHS took over cow wrangling duties. Mabel had frequently been seen roaming near Barkley Village. So, WHS staff and volunteers built a loose enclosure attached to a livestock trailer near a feeding station to lure Mabel.
Attempts were made to capture Mabel on Thursday, Oct. 17, but were hampered by a group of people in a vehicle following the cow, according to social media.
Laura Clark, the executive director of WHS, said Mabel had entered the enclosure area Friday and tripped a trip wire so that the enclosure door shut securely behind her. Staff and volunteers then coaxed Mabel into the livestock trailer that was attached to the enclsoure.
Clark said Mabel is settling in at the WHS farm facility and is being monitored around the clock.
“She is curious but cautious right now with our farm caretaker,” she said, noting a livestock veterinarian will examine Mabel in the future to assess her health.
Throughout the 2024 Great Bellingham Cow Hunt saga, WHS kept those interested informed via social media, including explaining that it had consulted with various livestock veterinarians on what the capture process should look like.
WHS staff, volunteers, Barkley neighborhood members, Barkley Village staff, local farmers and ranchers and veterinarians all assisted with rescue efforts.
Mabel will remain at the farm facility until WHS determines the best placement for her. WHS plans to work with farm sanctuaries and other animal welfare groups.
“We are so happy we could bring Mabel to safety before she injured herself or caused an accident and are extremely grateful for the support and assistance we received from so many,” Clark said.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
