Five zebras have been on the loose in Maryland for more than a week

by Jenna Romaine | Sept. 10, 2021 | Sep. 10, 2021

Story at a glance

Five zebras have been on the loose in Maryland for more than a week.
The zebras escaped from a farm near Upper Marlboro on Aug. 31.
Three are traveling together while the other two are traveling as a pair.

Five zebras have been on the loose in Maryland for more than a week.

“They got out, and they’re now still running loose,” chief of the Prince George’s County Animal Services Division, Rodney Taylor, said on Wednesday. “We have not caught them yet.”

The zebras escaped from a farm near Upper Marlboro on Aug. 31, according to a report in The Washington Post. It is still unclear how the zebras escaped from the farm, with animal services officials noting that the fencing remained in-tact.

The county’s 311 line began receiving phone calls the same day from residents who had spotted the zebras in their neighborhoods, much to their surprise.

“I’m telling you I haven’t been drinking, and I haven’t been doing any drugs. There are zebras in my backyard,” resident Alexis Curling told an operator.

America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

While the five zebras remain on the run, they are no longer all together, with animal services stating a trio of the zebras are wandering together, while the other two are together as a pair.

Five zebras (yes, you read it correctly – Z-E-B-R-A-S) run wild after escape from a Maryland farm https://t.co/IUPgBgRG1w

— Dana Hedgpeth (@postmetrogirl) September 8, 2021

Zebras are subject to becoming frightened easily, making their capture difficult. The animals cannot be chased, so they need to be corralled then fenced into an enclosed area.

While wildlife officials work to corral the animals, they are advising people to keep their distance.

“Never approach them, and don’t try to pet them,” Taylor said. “They’re not going to chase you down. But they are zebras, so they’re not handled by people a lot, so to defend themselves they could bite.”

READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA

WILD VIDEO SHOWS ALLIGATOR EATING DRONE AND DISAPPEARING IN WHITE SMOKE

AMAZING VIDEO CAPTURES RARELY SEEN YELLOW WHALES

VIDEO CATCHES TERRIFYING MOMENT A COLORADO HIKER WAS CHARGED BY ENORMOUS BULL MOOSE

WISCONSIN FAMILY CATCHES STRANGE, ‘SUPER RARE’ FISH IN FLORIDA WATERS

YELLOWSTONE TOURIST FACING FEDERAL CHARGES FOR GRIZZLY BEAR PHOTO