http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/ni ... 19267.html‘Ninja Cow’ beguiles Nebraska town
It didn't happen overnight, but residents of Plattsmouth, Nebraska have finally outsmarted a deceptive, wayward bovine known as the "Ninja Cow."
"It sounded like hoofs on the pavement, and by the time I could focus on it, all I could see was the rear end of whatever it was," local computer programmer Kevin Moon told the Wall Street Journal.
Wayward livestock can pose serious threats to human and other animals. Even a small deer can destroy a car, seriously injuring the occupants in a collision. Still, for months, the Ninja Cow eluded police and locals, making late night appearances on private lawns, leaving behind only cowpies as evidence of its existence.
The effort to bring in, or even bring down, the Ninja Cow was not lacking. Police and local experts tried just about everything from luring the cow with biscuits and gravy to capturing her on an infrared camera. They played cow sounds on a laptop. But every attempt failed. Pretty much the only thing they didn't try was recreating the cow costume from Top Secret.
And the more adept Ninja Cow became at eluding capture, the more her story captured the hearts and minds of Plattsmouth residents, spawning several Facebook fan pages and talk of an annual Ninja Cow Day celebration.
Local Police Chief Steve Rathman refused to bring his gun to bear on the animal. "This isn't something they teach at the police academy," he said.
The town even brought in a contractor, 55-year-old Terry Grell, to capture the beast. "If you're interested in getting this cow caught, you can give me a call," Grell said. "But that answering machine was probably full of people that thought they could catch it."
Mr Grell makes his pitch:
"Y'all know me. Ya know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bossie for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad cow. Not like going down the pasture chasin' wooly sheep and billy goats. This cow, stomp you whole. Little kickin', little gorin', an' down you go.....
It's not gonna be pleasant. I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no farm hands; there's just too many trail bosses in this town. $10,000 for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing. "
