In a remarkable display of cowboy skills, a real-life hero on horseback recently embarked on a daring chase to capture a runaway cow that had made its way onto a busy highway.
The heart-pounding incident, which unfolded on the I-75 highway in Michigan, US, was captured on a dashcam video.
The Michigan state troopers responded to a call requesting they be on standby on the I-75 highway after a cow escaped from a pasture.
Sensing the potential danger that a large animal roaming freely on a busy highway could pose, the state troopers swiftly sprang into action, positioning themselves on standby along the I-75 highway.
A team of cattle wranglers had already been deployed near Belford Road in Holly Township to rescue the animal from a gravel pit but the cow escaped and ran onto the highway at around 3pm, leading the wranglers on a chase.
State troopers shut down the north and southbound lanes to avoid collisions.
After a gripping pursuit that lasted nearly an hour, one of the skilled wranglers executed a flawless lasso throw, successfully capturing the cow and bringing it to a subdued state.
The highway was reopened after about an hour with no major incident.
Officials confirmed the cow is now safely back on the farm it had originally escaped from.
They couldn't help but add a touch of humour to the situation, noting that the cow now possesses a captivating tale to share with its fellow livestock upon its return to the farm.
A Michigan Police spokesperson said: "We haven't use the wranglers in the past and the reason we responded to that area was actually for the safety of the motorists and horses on the freeway.
"The cow managed to outsmart its advisories, and entered the northbound lanes of I-75. The wranglers chased the cow with four wheelers, horses, and lassos across all lanes of travel. Troopers shut down north and southbound lanes of I-75 for safety.
"Eventually after much tom foolery, the critter was captured and removed from the freeway. 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."
