Boise residents had an unexpected wake-up call early this morning when dozens of cows, possibly around 100, wandered into the city shortly after 1 a.m., creating a scene straight out of a country movie.
The herd was first spotted near the intersection of Bogus Basin and Cartwright Road, before making its way downtown. Witnesses reported cows trotting through several neighborhoods, including 18th and Sherman, 18th and Eastman, 15th and Harrison, and Dewey Street.
Local residents shared videos on social media showing the cows calmly roaming through quiet streets, pausing at intersections, and grazing on lawns. “It was surreal,” one Boise resident said. “You don’t expect to see a herd of cattle under the streetlights in the middle of the night.”
Boise Police officers and dispatchers responded swiftly, working together to locate the owner and corral the wandering animals. After several hours of careful coordination, officers managed to guide most of the herd into an alley between 18th and 19th Streets near Hill Road.
The owner arrived with a trailer and, with the help of officers and local volunteers, successfully rounded up the last of the strays. By around 5 a.m., the bovine visitors were safely hauled back home, ending Boise’s brief, but memorable, late-night stampede.
No injuries or property damage were reported. The incident left many residents amused, with one local joking online that “Boise’s morning rush hour came early — and smelled like hay.”
City officials have not yet confirmed how the cows managed to escape their enclosure, but the event has quickly become a trending topic among Boise residents.
For updates on local incidents and community alerts, visit the City of Boise or Boise Police Department websites.
News Source: Boise Police Department
