MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Firefighters in Middlesex County rescued a runaway cow that ended up trapped in a water tunnel under Route 9, and it took several days for crews to rescue her.
On Sunday, a Middletown resident spotted a cow stuck in a culvert - a tunnel that channels water under a roadway - and reported it to Middletown police, according to the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company.
It was later determined that the five-year-old cow was named Blossom; she had escaped from a farm on Bartholomew Road around two months ago while the owners were moving out of state, according to Haddam firefighters and the Durham Animal Response Team (DART).
It took several days' worth of attempts to get Blossom out of the culvert. The cold water and steep terrain made the first rescue attempt on Sunday difficult.
Monday's attempt was unsuccessful, even with more backup. Blossom was "uncooperative" and "aggravated," which made her inaccessible, Haddam and Middletown firefighters said.
It took a tranquilizer dart to sedate Blossom and complete the rescue during Tuesday's attempt. While sedated, 600-pound Blossom was strapped onto a flexible sled and was slowly lifted out of the ravine, Haddam firefighters said. A veterinarian evaluated Blossom and only found a few scrapes on her legs.
Blossom is now in quarantine at a state-owned barn in Niantic and there are plans for Blossom to eventually be transferred to a farm in Killingworth.
Middletown South Fire District and the Connecticut Dept. of Agriculture's Animal Control Unit also assisted in the rescue attempts. Middletown firefighters recently upgraded their ropes rescue equipment through a FEMA grant and were able to use it for Blossom's rescue.
While Blossom was being rescued from the culvert, the water from the Bible Rock Brook was at 8 inches and flowing rapidly. The culvert is 100 feet under both lanes of Route 9 on the Middletown and Higganum town line.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.