A zebra that had been roaming the western Washington foothills for days was captured Friday evening, nearly a week after it ran away with three other zebras from a trailer near Seattle.
Residents and animal control officers corralled the zebra, Shug, in the community of Riverbend, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle, King County Regional Animal Services said on its website.
“Despite a nearly week-long adventure in the forest, the zebra appeared to be in good condition,” the agency wrote.
Shug was one of four zebras that escaped while being transported from Washington to Montana last Sunday. The driver took the Interstate 90 exit toward North Bend, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle, to secure a trailer when the animals broke free, surprising residents and drivers when they galloped into the rural area. .
The three were quickly captured after being herded into a pasture. But the fourth – a mare who was originally nicknamed “Z” – jumped over the fence and disappeared. Shug’s adventure quickly captured the public’s attention, spawning memes on social media that featured the animal in everything from a ferry ride across Puget Sound to circling the bases at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.
But there have been more credible sightings elsewhere: Some area residents have spotted Suga on their security cameras, and this has raised some concerns since cameras have also recently captured cougars in the area.
Earlier Friday, King County officials closed trail access points along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in the Boxley Creek Natural Area, where zebras appeared to frequent. People trying to see the zebra may have spooked it, making it harder to catch, they said. Feeding areas were set up to help the animal go to the rescue.
Owner Christina Keltgen previously told The Seattle Times that she bought the zebras in Lewis County, Washington, and brought them to the petting zoo she runs near Anaconda, in southwest Montana. She had been on the road for about two hours when she noticed one of the trailer’s rugs flapping and dragging behind her. When she opened the door to straighten the rug, the zebras ran out. Several people, including a rodeo clown and horse trainers, stopped to help herd the animals into the pen, but Shug managed to avoid the attempts.
Shug will now be transported to Montana to join the rest of the zebra troop or group, King County Regional Animal Services said.