Deputies Looking for Zebras in Haywood County
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“I thought there was a person in the Woodville community that probably had the zebras, and I was right. She had them,” said Diane Akin who lives in Woodville. Officials said Nancy Bain had 12 zebras living on her property along Woodville Road. That is until she tried to sell four to a Missouri zoo, two weeks ago. “After the zoo left, the zebras left their pastures and went back to a wild stage. My understanding is that they were caught two times but they turn right around and get back again,” explained Sheriff Melvin Bond. Authorities said Bain is known for keeping wild animals, although they say she never had a serious problem with her pets escaping. They also said numerous calls have come in concerning zebra sightings and as of now, Sheriff Bond said their approach is to answer the calls to the best of their ability each time an incident is reported. “They are so wild that we cannot get within 100 yards of them, basically every once and a while we may get closer but they immediately take off,” added Bond. Sheriff Bond also said the woman has assured them that she is making every effort to resolve the problem. But her efforts are not good enough for local farmers. “Worked to get this stuff up and he’s going around eating it up and chopping it up. I’m about ready for them to get out,” said Billy Lankford. Lankford also adds the zebras already ate many of his soy beans and he is fearful they will work their way into his tomatoes. “They can’t catch em, they trying to run zebras down with horses. You can’t catch zebras with horses,” said Lankford Although most of the residents said they are not fearful of the zebras, they are patiently awaiting for Bain to once again lock up her wild animals. “I talked to her several times and she’s trying to get them up, but I don’t know what shes doing with them in the first place,” said Lankford. Deputies said Bain has been cited for animal livestock at large and will appear before the judge on Tuesday. Sheriff Bond said they hope to find a solution in court instead of taking on the problem themselves.
