Elusive zebra recovered in North Bend after 6 days on the run

NORTH BEND, Wash. — A zebra that escaped from a trailer in North Bend last weekend was finally recovered Friday evening after being on the loose for six days.

The mare, which was originally identified as a stallion, was safely rescued in the Riverbend neighborhood, according to Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC).

RASKC said "Shug" was found after roaming in the foothills of the Cascades and occasionally being spotted by residents which caused an international sensation.

Officials said private citizens joined animal control officers from RASKC to make the rescue. RASKC noted that the zebra seemed to be in good condition despite her being on the loose for nearly a week.

RASKC would like to thank it's partners, lcuding the King County Sheriff's Office, King County Parks, the Washington State Patrol, the city of North Bend, and the numerous residents of the area who assisted in this successful outcome," RASKC wrote in a release. "RASKC expects to release addtional details about the zebra's rescue soon.

RELATED: Loose zebra becomes local legend near North Bend

RASKC also said the zebra will be transported to Montana, which is where the four zebra's were originally headed before they escaped their trailer Sunday afternoon. The driver had taken the Interstate 90 exit for North Bend, in the Cascade mountain foothills about 30 miles east of Seattle, to secure the trailer, when the zebras got loose, surprising residents and drivers as they galloped into a rural neighborhood.

Three were quickly captured after being corralled in a pasture. But the fourth — a mare now known to be named “Shug,” — hopped a fence and has proved more elusive, spawning popular social media memes that have placed the animal everywhere from riding a ferry across Puget Sound to rounding the bases at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.

Animal Control confirmed the zebras' owner bought the animals from someone in Winlock, Washington and was taking them to her petting zoo in Montana when they escaped.

RELATED: Zebra still on the loose in North Bend, officials close trailheads to keep people away

On Friday, King County officials closed off trail access points along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in the Boxley Creek Natural Area, where the zebra seemed to be frequenting.