Loose cow triggers late-night roundup in Denver park, proves the city earned its nickname

They don’t call it the Cow Town for nothing.

A runaway cow that wandered out of Lakewood and into Denver late Monday night sparked a brief urban rodeo at Garfield Lake Park, drawing officers, animal-control crews and a growing crowd of phone-wielding onlookers before the animal was finally corralled inside an enclosed soccer field.

Lakewood police said they began receiving calls about the loose cow in the area of West Mississippi Avenue and South Sheridan Boulevard between 12:30 and 2 a.m. Tuesday. The animal had crossed city lines into Denver by the time responders caught up with it, trotting through residential streets and keeping well ahead of anyone on foot.

Officers and animal-control personnel worked together to steer the cow off nearby roads and nudge it into a fenced area inside the park, according to video aired by 9News. The cow spent several hours grazing on the enclosed soccer pitch — arguably the most relaxed player to ever take that field — while crews tracked down its owner.

Photos shared with 9News by viewer Christopher Anderson show the cow ultimately being coaxed into a livestock trailer before being hauled back to greener — and more rural — pastures.

The overnight caper quickly lit up social media. A post on Reddit’s r/Denver forum carried the headline, “I guess this really is a cow town,” and drew dozens of comments along with clips of officers guiding the animal across open fields.

No injuries to people or the cow were reported.

I guess this really is a cow town
by
u/LargeTallGent in
Denver