Sheriff Drone Finds Loose Bull and Calf in Massachusetts Woods

Marshfield, United States – A sheriff's thermal-imaging drone found a bull and a heifer calf that had been loose for five days in Marshfield, Massachusetts, before the animals were darted and taken home.

The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department released footage of the search after the capture on Monday, November 9. Reports describing the video show the two cattle as pale shapes in thermal imagery in woods off Plain Street, with people moving toward them.

Marshfield police said the black Angus pair, nicknamed Bessie and Clyde, were reported missing on Thursday and had been in the area of Ferry Street and Main Street. The sheriff's department said Assistant Deputy Superintendent Nicole Bradley and Lieutenant Alex Johnson deployed a FLIR drone and located the animals within about 15 minutes. Officers set up a perimeter on nearby roads, and Jeff Perette of R.G. Wilson Farm / Littles Farm entered the woods with a tranquilizer rifle after darts were prepared with veterinarian Dr. Karen Carver.

Perette darted both animals. Once the tranquilizer took effect, officers and volunteers roped and secured them, then walked them into a trailer after it wore off and returned them to their owner.