The missing zebra, a Western Washington sensation, was found near North Bend on Friday night after nearly a week on the loose.
The mare, whose name – “Shug” – was publicly revealed Friday, escaped from her owner’s trailer April 28 in North Bend along with three other zebras. The three were quickly corralled while Shug continued to roam, attract all kinds of attention, and likely walk hundreds of miles while never getting very far.
Shug, who spent much of the week misidentified as a stallion, was rescued just before 8 p.m. in the Riverbend community south of North Bend.
The details weren’t all in hand late Friday, said Cameron Satterfield, spokesperson for Regional Animal Services of King County. But somehow, a group of ordinary folks along with animal control officers got the zebra into a pen.
“She looks pretty healthy,” said Satterfield.
Zebras eat mostly grass and leaves, so Shug probably did fine in that regard, and maybe found water at Rattlesnake Lake, Satterfield explained.
“We’ve all had to become zebra experts” over the last days, Satterfield said.
Satterfield said there may be a news conIference Saturday to convey more details, but Shug will not be attending. It’s apparently time to finish the trip to Montana, where the four zebras were headed before they escaped Sunday.
The owner was moving the animals from Winlock, in Lewis County, Washington, to Anaconda, Montana, when she stopped near Exit 32 on Interstate 90, to fix a problem with the trailer, according to Regional Animal Services. When she went to secure the trailer, all four zebras bolted. Three of the four were re-captured in a few hours.
As Shug, affectionately dubbed Z in recent days, made her way around the foothills of the Cascades, fascinated residents caught glimpses of her and posted memes. Dozens of calls came in to animal services, Satterfield said, and more people phoned 911, trying to get help for the animal or just wanting to learn more.
Now, with the search for Z concluded, we say goodbye to Shug.