Buddy the beefalo continues to elude police

When finally captured, Buddy will be transported to Florida to live out his days on an animal sanctuary.

PLYMOUTH — As police continue to track the elusive Buddy the beefalo, the department said it is avoiding tranquilizing him because “it could kill him.”

The 1,000- pound bull, a cross between a bison and domestic cattle, has been wandering the wooded areas near Route 72 and Judd Road since early August after he escaped a truck that brought him to a Terryville meat processing plant.

Police, who named the animal Buddy, said as the truck backed into the loading dock at the slaughterhouse, Buddy pushed his way out and fled into the woods.

Since his escape, police have been trying to safely capture the animal.

But police this week explained that tranquilizing him was not an option.

“We are in some heavy woods,” police said of the area. “Once hit, this would cause him to run away into the woods. We would have to track him down and then drag him out of the woods, possibly causing him to get hurt. The most important reason why we are not doing this is because it could kill him. We want to capture him as safely as possible.”

Police said Buddy was most recently spotted Saturday night.

“He was unsure as we have changed some things around to help us catch him,” police said.

The department added a spotlight to better keep an eye on the area. Police said he got within 15 yards of an officer around 10: 20 p. m. Saturday and then slowly walked away.

When finally captured, Buddy will be transported to Florida to live out his days on an animal sanctuary.

OPlymouth Police Department / Buddy the beefalo captured on surveillance footage at the end of September. Plymouth, Conn., police continue to try to capture him, so they can send him to retire at an animal sanctuary in Florida.