Lester the Steer Goes on the Lam and Causes Chaos on Michigan Highway

Over the weekend, drivers on a Michigan highway were treated to a wild sight as they witnessed a two-ton steer named Lester on the loose. Lester had been on the run for about six weeks after escaping from a ranch, and had become quite the escape artist. He was only at the ranch because he had escaped from another animal rescue facility in Rose Township.

The video footage shows authorities and ranchers working from horseback, four-wheeler, and police car to find Lester. The crew is on the northbound side of I-75 in Holly, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit proper. About halfway through the footage, Lester pops out of the woods, jukes a guy on a four-wheeler, and merges onto the highway itself.

Troopers shut down north and southbound lanes of I-75 for safety, according to the MSP Second District Twitter account. However, the video seems to indicate otherwise as cars are moving along on both sides of the road. In fact, there’s a blue sedan that rolls by the bovine as it’s running from the man.

An actual cowboy then gets up behind Lester and lassos him by the neck. The chase isn’t over though because the cow then makes the drastic choice to turn left and jump over the divider into oncoming traffic. While the video ends there, Lester was stopped shortly thereafter and is safe and sound now.

“Eventually after much tom foolery, the critter was captured and removed from the freeway,” the state police wrote on Twitter. “Troopers reopened the freeway and things quickly got back to normal. The bovine was not charged and is back in the pasture with a story to tell all the other livestock.”

Lester’s escape highlights the importance of proper animal containment and safety measures. It also serves as a reminder that even seemingly docile animals can cause chaos when they are on the loose. It’s fortunate that no one was hurt during Lester’s escapade, and that he was safely returned to his pasture.