Bull on the run after 8 break out of rodeo in Massachusetts

Officials were searching for a runaway bull in southern Massachusets early Monday after a herd of the animals jumped a fence at a rodeo event a day earlier.

“Community members should exercise extreme caution and not approach the bull if found. If found, community members should call 9-1-1,” North Attleboro Fire Chief Christopher Coleman said in a statement. 

Dramatic video captured by an onlooker shows the moment eight bulls escaped by jumping over a perimeter fence at the one-day event at Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

The animals escaped their pens, ran through the parking lot and jumped over the fence, before fleeing south towards nearby woods, according to Coleman.

One bull was caught just after fleeing, and six were corralled some three miles away by local police and firefighters, along with environmental police, workers from the rodeo and staff from the New England Rodeo in nearby Norton, Coleman said.

No injuries were reported but the rodeo, which was being held at a mall, was under investigation, he added.

The search continues for the remaining bull.

Attleboro resident Chris Mooney saw the bulls walk down his street and through his yard.

“As soon as I stepped out and I looked out there I said those aren’t horses, those are literally bulls and oh my god,” he told NBC Boston. “Two of them were laying down and another was budging the fence trying to get out, and the other ones were just sitting there.”