Bull From Littleton Auction On The Loose For A Second Time

LITTLETON (CBS) -- The bull that escaped from a Littleton auction has successfully evaded capture all Wednesday afternoon.

Around 3:45 p.m. the bull was spotted for the first time in hours.

Littleton Police tweeted that they located a bull around noon in Groton. They had warned town residents and neighboring communities that a 1200 pound bull escaped from The Flame Auction site on Great Road around 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Shortly thereafter, the bull was reported to be on the loose again.

Employees said they were trying to load the bull on to a livestock trailer when it broke free and ran through an open gate.

"It's definitely not something we see every day," said Deputy Police Chief Jeff Patterson.

Officials searched for the bull until past midnight on Tuesday then resumed their search on Wednesday.

Patterson said police are helping the owners to try to find the animal.

"They have mentioned putting cows out in a pasture and more feed and stuff and that tends to get them to return," explained Patterson. "They wanted us to back off last night to keep it from being spooked and to keep it running."

Many people around town are not worried about the bull, though.

"I was kind of shocked at first but animals will be animals. They were just trying to get out, I guess," said one woman.

According to Jamie Cruz, a board member of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau, an animal has escaped from this auction before. After last time, fencing was installed around the property.

"It makes it so the animal can't cross through because their feet would fall through. I know the Farm Bureau has been talking about it and I'd like to see us as an organization take the proper measurements to move forward with that," said Cruz.

Anyone who sees the bull is advised not to approach it and to call the Littleton Police Department at 978-540-2300.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports