Steak was expensive.
In a thrilling mission that took several days, firefighters rescued an escaped cow trapped in a rapidly filling channel.
Blossom was first discovered Oct. 28, trapped in a concrete box culvert just 30 feet long under a freeway in Middletown, a city 25 miles south of Hartford.
Bible Rock Brook, which runs through a culvert, quickly erupted, leaving a 5-year-old cow in 8 inches of water, according to the Haddam Volunteer Fire Department.
Frigid temperatures, high water currents and steep terrain made the rescue dangerous, and it took firefighters two days to reach Blossom, who was very shaken up.
“The team was able to access the culvert but were unable to access the uncooperative cow,” the fire service said. said in a statement.
Finally, on Halloween, a team from Tufts Veterinary Field Services joined the mission, sedating the 600-pound heifer with a sedative arrow, and rescuers strapping her to a flexible sled and securing her. I was able to drag it back to land.
Four days after she was first discovered, firefighters used a pulley machine to pull her out of the ravine.
“Through a FEMA grant, SFD recently updated its rope rescue capabilities with training and equipment. Who knew it could be used to rescue 600 pound cows!!” South Fire District Middletown; said the person who helped with the mission.
Surprisingly, Blossom only suffered a minor scrape on her leg.
It’s unclear how long she was trapped, but Blossom had been missing since she escaped from a nearby meadow two months ago.
Blossom will be moved to a state barn for isolation and then to a new home outside of New Haven.
