Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT EIR GREAT ESCAPE.SIOBHAN: MORE THAN A DOZENBISON, ON THE LAM. THE BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY,CAUGHT ON CAMERA, AS THE FAMILYWHO LIVES TWO DOORS AWAY FROMBOLDUC FARM ARRIVED HOME TO THESTAMPEDE>> AND THEN I JUST SCREAMED FORHIM TO STOP, BECAUSE I THOUGHTTHEY WERE GOING TO RUN RIGHTACROSS. AND THEN, THEY JUST KEPTCOMING. >> MY SON CALLED ME, AND HESAID, "I THINK THOSE AREARMAND'S BUFFALOS. THEY'RECOMING RIGHT DOWN LACONIA BYPASSAT ABOUT 25-30 MILES AN HOUR." SIOBHAN: THE HUGE ANIMALS,HALTING TRAFFIC FOR SOME TIME ASPOLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL WORKEDTO CORRAL THEM.>> THEY CAN GO UP TO 45 MILES ANHOUR, SO TRYING TO HERD THEM WVERY DIFFICULT. SIOBHAN: THE FAMILY BELIEVESLOUD ROAD WORK MAY HAVE SCAREDTHE ANIMALS. THEY FOUND A WEAK SPOT IN THEFENCE, AND TOOK OFF RUNNING DOWNTHE ROAD. >> BUT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEENEXCELLENT, AND SO HASN'T BEEN-- SO HAVE BEEN THE CONSTRUCTIONPEOPLE. WHEN YOU'RE IN A FARMING AREA,EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER. SIOBHAN: THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODWORKED TO BRING THE BISON HOMESAFELY. THE FAMILY WHO SAW THE START OFTHE ESCAPE ALSO WITNESSED THEEND.>> MY YOUNGER SON HERE YELLEDDOWN, "THERE'S SOME COPSOUTSIDE," AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT?"LOOK OUTSIDE." AND ALL OF ASUDDEN, THE HANDLERS WERE JUSTLIKE, "GET BACK INSIDE." SIOBHAN: AFTER SEVERAL HOURS,ALL OF THE BISON AND THEIR YOUNGCALVES HAD RETURNED. A HECTIC DAY FOR THE FARM, BUTSOME UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT IN OTHERWISE QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.>> IT WASN'T UNTIL WE PLAYED THEVIDEO BACK THAT WE NOTICED THESONG THAT WAS PLAYING IN THEBACKGROUND. WHAT IS IT? "ROAD LESSTRAVELED," AND WE'RE JUSTCRACKING UP, BECAUSE THATCOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECTSIOBHAN: IN GILFORD, SL WMUR

Advertisement Bison break out of their farm, stop traffic in Gilford More than a dozen animals were on the loose Share Shares Copy Link Copy

More than a dozen stampeding bison on the loose brought traffic to a standstill in the Lakes Region Tuesday.>> Download the FREE WMUR appBy evening, all of the animals had made their way back where they belong.The beginning of their journey caught on camera as the family who lives two doors away from Bolduc Farm arrived home to the stampede.“And then I just screamed for (my son) to stop because I thought they were going to run right across, and then they just kept coming,” Gilford resident Courtney Schwatzkopf said.“My son called me and he said, ‘I think those are Armand’s buffaloes. They're coming right down Laconia Bypass at about 25-30 miles an hour,’” said Robert Bolduc, whose brother owns the bison.The huge animals halted traffic for some time as police and animal control staffers worked to corral them.“They can go up to 45 miles an hour, so trying to herd them was very difficult,” Bolduc said.The family believes the animals may have been scared by loud road work, found a weak spot in the fence and took off running down the road.“But the neighbors have been excellent, and so hasn't been the construction people,” Bolduc said. “When you're in a farming area, everybody gets together.”The whole neighborhood worked to bring the bison home safely.Schwartzkopf’s family also witnessed the end of the pursuit.“My younger son here who yelled out, ‘There's some cops outside, and I was like, ‘What?’ (And he said) ‘Look outside,’ and all of a sudden’ the handlers were just like, ‘Get back inside,’” Schwartzkopf said.After several hours, all of the bison and their young calves had returned.It was hectic day at the farm, but the big animals provided some unexpected excitement in an otherwise quiet neighborhood.“It wasn't until we played the video back that we noticed the song that was playing in the background – what is it? – ‘Road Less Traveled,’” Schwartzkopf said. “And we're just cracking up, because that couldn't have been more perfect.”