NORTH BEND, Wash. (AP) — It was an unusual wildlife sighting Sunday when four zebras escaped from their trailer and galloped into a Washington neighborhood.
Three of the four black-and-white striped animals were quickly captured, but the fate of the fourth wasn’t immediately known Monday, Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said.
The zebras were being transported from Washington to Montana when the driver took the Interstate 90 exit for North Bend, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Seattle, to secure the trailer.
That’s when the the zebras bolted.
Witness Dan Barnett of North Bent told KING-TV of Seattle that he was in “disbelief,” when he saw the zebras eating grass off the side of the offramp.
He and other drivers helped protect the zebras from the busy nearby interstate, as drivers on the offramp pulled over to “make a makeshift fence” to block the animals from the highway, Barnett said.
The zebras then began heading toward town, trotting past brunch patrons at a restaurant near the interstate exit. Soon after, three of the AWOL zebras were in Whitney Blomquist’s backyard.
"I called someone and was like, ‘So I found the missing zebras, they’re in my yard. Yeah – not sure what to do,’” Blomquist said.
The zebras then ran to a neighboring yard, where two were captured with the help of rodeo professionals. The third, the baby of the herd, was corralled later.
Johnson posted photos of the loose zebras on the social platform X. “This is a first for me and all @wastatepatrol troopers involved,” he wrote. “Crazy!”
This image provided by the Washington State Patrol shows zebras that got loose Sunday, April 28, 2024, when the driver stopped at the Interstate 90 exit to North Bend, Wash., to secure the trailer in which they were being carried. The Washington State Patrol said the four zebras made their way to the town before three were capture, and the fate of the fourth was not immediately known. (Rick Johnson/Washington State Patrol via AP)
This image provided by the Washington State Patrol shows zebras that got loose Sunday, April 28, 2024, when the driver stopped at the Interstate 90 exit to North Bend, Wash., to secure the trailer in which they were being carried. The Washington State Patrol said the four zebras made their way to the town before three were capture, and the fate of the fourth was not immediately known. (Rick Johnson/Washington State Patrol via AP)
This image provided by the Washington State Patrol shows a zebra that got loose Sunday, April 28, 2024, when the driver stopped at the Interstate 90 exit to North Bend, Wash., to secure the trailer in which they were being carried. The Washington State Patrol said the four zebras made their way to the town before three were capture, and the fate of the fourth was not immediately known. (Rick Johnson/Washington State Patrol via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Luis García Jr. homered and drove in three runs, Eddie Rosario also had three RBIs and the Washington Nationals snapped a five-game slide with a 12-3 victory over the struggling Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
Jesse Winker hit a solo shot and Jacob Young delivered a two-run single during a four-run fifth inning off Twins starter Pablo López (4-4) to help Washington pound out 14 hits and hand Minnesota its seventh straight defeat.
Mitchell Parker (3-2) allowed three runs in six innings in the series opener, his longest outing since the rookie threw seven in a 2-0 win over Houston on April 21.
Minnesota's Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer in the sixth. But Parker escaped further trouble when he struck out Kyle Farmer to strand two and end his outing.
López allowed a season-worst seven runs on eight hits and a walk through five innings. The Nats added three more in the sixth, the last two scoring on catcher Christian Vázquez's errant throw as Rosario stole second, and two in the eighth on Rosario's single.
The Twins helped Parker escaped the second with only one run allowed when Nats shortstop CJ Abrams threw out Byron Buxton at home on a relay after Willi Castro doubled to left. Farmer singled to plate Castro before Parker retired 10 of the next 11 batters.
TRAINERS ROOM
Twins: DH/OF Trevor Larnach (turf toe) could return to his corner outfield role soon, said manager Rocco Baldelli, but it probably won't be an everyday occurrence at first. Larnach has served as DH in all but one of his games since April 23.
Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery) threw 44 pitches over 2 2/3 innings in his first rehab outing with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Nationals earlier Monday. He struck out five and walked one. ... OF Lane Thomas (left knee sprain) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and take three or four at-bats, manager Davey Martinez said.
UP NEXT
Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (1-4, 5.59 ERA) looks to build on a pair of promising starts while Twins RHP Joe Ryan (2-3, 3.57) tries to rebound from allowing four earned runs for the first time this season.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton starts his slide toward home on a double by teammate Willi Castro during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. Buxton was tagged out at home by Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa gestures before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals' Jacob Young, right, steals second against Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals' Jesse Winker, center, celebrates after his home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. Home plate umpire Ramon DeJesus, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals' Joey Gallo, left, greets Keibert Ruiz, right, after they scored on a single by Jacob Young during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals' Jacob Young takes a lead off second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
