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Orrington: Runaway cows causing ruckus
Saturday, August 09, 2008 - Bangor Daily News

ORRINGTON, Maine - The suspects are breaking out basically every day and they’re repeat offenders.

That’s what Carla Brown, Orrington’s animal control officer, said Friday about a group of renegade cows owned by local farmer Herbert Henderson.

Brown was dispatched to the area of the farm, which lies near the junction of the Dow Road and Center Drive, twice on Friday — at 6:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. — to round up Henderson’s loose cattle.

The problem is big enough that town selectmen will discuss the runaway cows during their regular meeting on Monday night.

"The cows are getting out just about every day and causing damage to other residences in the town," Brown said. "I have been trying to slowly address the problem. [Recently, around] 90 percent of my time has been rounding up cows."

Cattle have been escaping from the farm for years, and Henderson has been given animal trespass tickets for the at-large animals that date back to at least October 1993, according to court reports printed in the Bangor Daily News.

"It’s not a new issue," Brown said.

At least six residents have complained recently about loose cows, Town Manager Carl Young said on Friday.

"In the last three weeks, a considerable rash of cows [have been reported] escaping their pastures," he said. "Some residents have woken up day after day with … cows in their front yards."

One resident twisted an ankle stepping into a hoof print. Town officials also are concerned about the possibility of someone getting injured or worse in an accident when the cows wander into the road.

Henderson has an unlisted number and could not be reached Friday. But Young said the farmer has been working with town officials to reduce his herd, which totals around 100 head of cattle, with one truckload shipped out recently and another expected to go out in the next week.

"We’re hoping through the next week or so to truck off at least one-third of the herd," he said.

The smaller numbers should make the farm more manageable for Henderson, Young said.

"He’s out there all day" working on the farm, Young said. "He’s kind of a one-man band. We aren’t working against Mr. Henderson."

Brown added that "we’re not trying to pick on any one person," but the problem of loose animals within town limits needs to be addressed.

Every time the cows break free of the fencing, Henderson is called and he and Brown chase them down and return them to their pen. The problem is: once a bovine understands it can get free, to get to grass on the other side of the fence, it’s commonplace for them to repeat the action, both Young and Brown said.

There are "repeat offenders" the animal control officer said.

The fence, which is "an old barbed wire fence with pallets piled up to keep the livestock in," is in need of repairs, Brown said.

Town officials and locals have volunteered to help Henderson fix his fence, but the offer has been declined for insurance reasons, Young said.

Preventing the cows from damaging property and possibly injuring someone while free are reasons behind a push to find a solution to the escapee problem, both Brown and Young said.

"We’re very concerned," the town manager said.