At-large-cattle in the county was a surprise addition to Prince Edward County council’s agenda on Tuesday, as a large gathering of farmers and residents turned up to air concerns, frustrations, and possible solutions.

Lynn Leavitt, chair of the Prince Edward Cattlemen’s Association, summed up the situation in the following way:

After further query, council learned that the 14-member herd of skittish and flighty black rodeo cows — that originate from a local farm and have been sighted in the vicinity of County Road 49, including on Fish Lake, Bethesda, and Machill roads — could potentially grow due to the presence of fertile heifers among its number.

Besides the damage caused by the marauding herd to local properties, the risk to road traffic, especially at night, was discussed, because of their poor light reflection.

In the end, council unanimously passed a motion calling for staff to research and provide recommendations for a draft by-law to allow for the retention of a local pound keeper in these sorts of exceptional circumstances by the April 11 Council meetingc

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