Authorities in California worked to wrangle a trio of escaped cows that fell off a trailer near Highway 99. Two of the cows wandered to Modesto Junior College's agriculture department and were wrangled by students, but a third led police on a chase before being lassoed by Woodland Avenue Fire Battalion Chief Heath Flora. Screen capture/KCRA/Inform Inc.

MODESTO, Calif., April 27 (UPI) -- A group of three cows led police on a chase and slowed traffic in California after falling out of a trailer near a local highway.

The two Jersey cows and a Holstein were seen wandering around near Highway 99 in Modesto, according to California Highway Patrol.


Both of the Jersey cows were quickly captured after finding their way to Modesto Junior College's agriculture department.

The third cow continued traveling against traffic along the highway, as California Highway Patrol and animal control officers attempted to capture the cow.

Woodland Avenue Fire Battalion Chief Heath Flora, who told KCRA that he was raised on a farm, eventually managed to corner the crafty Holstein against a chain link fence and was able to lasso the animal.

"Threw a rope around his back hoof and then tied it to the front of a patrol car," Flora said. "We're not cowboys, we're firefighters so roping cows is not our primary job."

A group of agriculture interns at Modesto Junior College spotted the scene and offered their trailer to help transfer the cows.

The Holstein suffered some cuts in the chase, but was not seriously injured.