Part of the herd of cows fleeing Saint-Sévère in the Mauricie department was finally captured on Saturday evening after an operation lasting several weeks.
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Four animals could thus be returned to their owners on Sunday morning, explained Jean-Sébastien Dubé, communications manager of the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) in Mauricie, on the phone.
The animals were in good condition when they returned to their home farm, UPA Mauricie said in a press release.
The operation that led to the capturing of the cattle was carried out in stages, says Mr Dubé.
A feeder was installed two or three weeks ago, then fences were installed that gradually closed the opening until the producers decided to close it on Saturday night.
Not finished
“Only part of the herd entered the enclosure, perhaps because of the weather,” said Mr Dubé, who estimates that 7 or 8 cattle escaped.
A similar operation will be repeated “possibly this week” to capture them, he said.
In May, 24 cows and some calves broke through the fence of their enclosure on a farm in Saint-Barnabé.
About half of the herd came home alone in the summer, Dubé said.
The epic adventure of these ferocious beasts has captivated Quebec in recent weeks and even made headlines elsewhere around the world.
The cows had been wandering around Saint-Barnabé and Saint-Sévère for weeks, causing widespread damage to the region’s fields and headaches for farmers.
“In No Man’s Judgment”
Before the UPA Mauricie coordinated the producer-led operation, the authorities passed the buck.
When the municipality of Saint-Sévère asked the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) to act, it referred it to the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks instead.
The Department of Wildlife had said it could not intervene as the animals were not wild.
The Sûreté du Québec let them know that they only intervene when the animals are out on the streets.
Nor was it on behalf of the UPA, which brings together agricultural producers to capture the animals.
“It’s a bit in nobody’s backyard,” says Mr. Dubé, underlining the solidarity of the producers who coordinated the operation in the field.
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