Highlights:
- Two baby sheep escaped from a fenced area near Triple Lakes Road in Monroe County.
- One lamb was captured by Deputy Reinhardt after two days on the run.
- The second lamb remains missing, and the public is urged to report sightings.
COLUMBIA, Ill. — Two baby sheep broke free from a fenced area near Triple Lakes Road earlier this week, prompting an unusual countryside chase that ended with one lamb in custody and the other still hoofing it through Monroe County.
The animals slipped the fence and spent two days making surprise appearances in backyards and roaming wooded areas before Deputy Reinhardt of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department captured one of the fugitives and returned it safely to its owners. The second sheep remains at large as authorities continue their search.
“This was a catch and release—straight back to its rightful owners with a warning and some extra hay,” the department noted. Officials emphasized no harm came to the animal or the community during the chase.
The Sheriff’s Department also referenced the Illinois Safety Act in a tongue-in-cheek remark, calling it a “no-bail situation,” as the lamb was released without further incident.
Anyone who spots the second sheep is encouraged not to approach it but to contact local authorities. The animal is believed to still be in the Columbia area.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said deputies remain ready to assist with “suspects or runaways”—regardless of species.
The lamb-led escape became an unexpected two-day saga in rural Illinois.