The four zebras escaped a trailer at about 1 p.m.
NORTH BEND, Wash. — Authorities are searching for a zebra that escaped a trailer in North Bend near I-90 on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol (WSP) said four zebras being transported escaped at about 1 p.m. Sunday when the driver stopped to secure the trailer along eastbound I-90.
Three of the zebras have been captured, but one zebra is still loose, according to the WSP.
The sight of four zebras’ striped silhouettes was set against the sound of speeding cars behind them.
“A little bit of disbelief, and really just, how can we help?” said Barnett.
Barnett said other drivers had the same urge to help. They jumped into action.
“The cars on the offramp kinda pulled over by the guardrail and kinda lined up really close to kind of make a, makeshift fence to keep them from coming up onto the offramp area,” said Barnett.
Their efforts worked because the zebras avoided the interstate. Instead, they galloped into the neighborhoods, witnesses said.
“I’ve only ever seen them in a zoo, so that was a first,” said Alex Campo, who works at South Fork restaurant off I-90’s Exit 32 in North Bend.
Brunch patrons witnessed the pack of four zebras gallop past the busy weekend rush.
“Just all saw the zebras on the road,” said Campo.
“A pretty busy road,” added South Fork regular Jon-Erick Anes.
Anes captured the moments with his camera phone. He couldn’t believe his eyes; he said he thought someone was playing a prank on him.
“And then I saw some cars try and like get into the, the neighborhoods to fence them in,” said Anes.
But again, they got away.
“They just started hanging out in the grass in somebody’s yard across the street,” said Anes.
The baby of the pack wound up in a woman’s backyard.
Meanwhile, when officers arrived, they were able to corner another zebra– but not before Whitney Blomquist saw three of them in her backyard.
“And then so I called someone and was like, ‘Um so I found the missing zebras, they’re in my yard. Uhhh yeah – not sure what to do,'” said Blomquist.
Blomquist said they then ran into her neighbor’s property.
“Two of them are in the barn just past my house,” she said.
Two of them were corralled there with the help of rodeo professionals. The barn is about a five-minute drive from the interstate.
“They made it pretty far up, yeah!” said Blomquist.
Now for locals like Blomquist, April 28th, 2024 will forever be known as “the day the zebras came into North Bend.” said Campo, laughing.
Barnett added, “They’re really beautiful animals, and through no fault of their own, found themselves in a very confusing place. So let’s just hope they all make it to home or whatever that is, tonight.”
We are still waiting on details from authorities regarding where they were coming from, where they were being transported to, and why. Stay with KING 5 for updates.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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