Loose cow not expected to need additional treatment after on-campus escape, says UIPD

A cow escaped while being loaded onto a trailer at U of I's Large Animal Clinic Wednesday afternoon, briefly roaming campus before being safely recovered near Foellinger Auditorium.

Blue police car light bar flashing at night, foreground in focus and city street blurred in the background (emergency scene).

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CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — On Wednesday, a handful of social media posts displayed what appeared to be a loose cow on the run on the U of I campus.

Chambana Today reached out to the University of Illinois Police Department for a statement, and learned that the cow got loose at approximately 3:30 p.m. while being loaded onto a trailer at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Large Animal Clinic, located at 1008 W Hazelwood Dr Room 244 in Urbana.

“Personnel from VetMed; the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES); and the Division of Public Safety followed the animal as it traveled through Mount Hope Cemetery south of campus and continued north toward campus grounds, ultimately resting near Foellinger Auditorium,” Patrick Wade, Director of Executive Communications and Issues Management at the UIPD, shared. “The cow has been safely recovered and is now under veterinary evaluation and care.”

The cow, as shared by UIPD, suffered minor injuries but is not expected to require additional treatment.

“Our priority is always the humane treatment and wellbeing of animals in our care,” Wade’s release shared. “No person was seriously injured during the event. We appreciate the quick and coordinated action of our campus teams in handling an unpredictable situation.”