WACO, Texas – A bull elk was tranquilized and transported out of Waco Wednesday afternoon after evading officials for nearly seven hours.
Waco Police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said officers, game warden and animal control officials mobilized after a resident called authorities around 6 a.m. Wednesday to report an elk near his home on the southern edge of downtown.
Authorities blocked off several roads in an effort to capture the animal, including 20th Street.
"My initial thought was, ‘We've got to lock the door down because they're after somebody,' and then I found out... No," said Darlene Sowder, an employee at Nemmer Electric.
Swanton said the animal was cornered and shot with a tranquilizer dart about 12:30 p.m. in a creek bed more than a mile from where he was first spotted. The bull elk was removed to a heard on a nearby ranch.
The bull elk is estimated to be about 2 years old and about 600 pounds.
Swanton said it is unknown where the animal came from.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
