Cattle on the lam: Motorists warned to be alert along Trans-Canada Highway

RCMPin eastern P.E.I. are warning motoriststo be on the lookout for stray cattle.

About 80 cattle escaped Friday from a farmin Newtown Cross, about 30 kilometres east of Charlottetown.The farmer managed to round up most of them, but around 30 were still on the loose Saturday afternoon, police said.

Kings District RCMP Const. Robert Honkoopsaid it's a "huge concern" because of farm's proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway.

"Especially at nighttime or dark, if a cow decided to run across the road it's essentially a 1,000-pound structure that you certainly don't want to meet at highway speeds, so it's a huge concern for the public," he said.

The farmer did not want to do an interview, but he said the animals got loose after a gate was accidentally left open. The majority of the herd headed into a nearby wooded area.

RCMP are asking motorists to drive with cautionand to contact police if one of the stray animalsis encountered.

"Be careful and aware that they are out there," Honkoop said.

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