Chaos ensued at Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro after eight bulls made a break for it during a rodeo event. The North Attleboro Fire Department, alongside local police and rodeo professionals, responded to the unexpected roundup on Saturday after the animals were spotted bolting from their pens around 12:30 p.m. The errant bulls charged through a parking lot and hurdled a fence, taking shelter in the wooded area behind a nearby BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.
According to a press release from the North Attleboro website, Fire Chief Christopher Coleman reported that the first bull was recaptured shortly after its daring escape. A collaborative effort involving the North Attleboro Fire and Police Departments, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and members of the rodeo community from both the Emerald Square Mall event and the New England Rodeo in Norton was launched to locate the remaining animals.
By late afternoon, 4:30 p.m. to be precise, six of the fugitive bulls were discovered confined behind a fence at a residence on Prescott Street in Attleboro. Authorities and rodeo handlers managed to safely corral the six bulls into a trailer, neutralizing the potential danger without harm to the animals or any individuals.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, but the rodeo, originally planned as a one-day spectacle at the mall, is now under scrutiny. Despite efforts in the afternoon, one bull remains at large. Locals are urged to maintain a safe distance and are advised against approaching the animal. "Community members should exercise extreme caution and not approach the bull if found," warned Fire Chief Coleman, as noted on the North Attleboro website. If sighted, community members should call 9-1-1 immediately to report the location of the elusive bull.
