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Bison on the loose in Lacombe area

Police are warning Lacombe area residents to be wary of a bison that is roaming in the area.

A lone bison may be roaming the countryside west of Lacombe after escaping a feedlot south of town early Wednesday morning and then fleeing police officers trying to catch it.

The 675-kg animal took off from its compound and was spotted by a town resident at about 3:30 a.m. near Cranna Lake in the northwest part of town.

Lacombe officers were called. The burly beast was discovered on Northstar Drive at 58th Street.

“Members spotted it standing in the middle of the road and were able to use their vehicles to keep it going a certain way,” said Lacombe Police Service Const. Richard Kohut on Wednesday afternoon.

Police managed to contain it for a while in the park west of Central Alberta Christian High School.

The animal then took off through the neighbourhood, wandering through yards along Westview Drive.

Lacombe town bylaw officer Wayne Lowe said he looked for it in the west area of town.

His search at 8 a.m. was without success.

Armin Mueller of Bentley owns the animal. The bison producer couldn’t be reached for comment as to whether the animal was captured.

Kohut said there hasn’t been a sighting since before 7 a.m.

“Certainly our biggest concern was keeping it out the residential area,” Kohut said.

Police warned residents not to approach the animal if they spot it, but call police immediately.

Like any wild animal, bison can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com