Five Highland cattle escape and roam roads in Pirkanmaa

Five Highland cattle have been roaming roads in Juupajoki, Pirkanmaa, since escaping from their enclosure last week, warns the Finnish Transport Agency.

The animals were spotted Monday morning on road 58, about five kilometres from Koppelojärvi, according to a traffic alert. Similar warnings were issued late Sunday evening. Drivers in northeastern Pirkanmaa are advised to stay cautious, as the cattle may pose a hazard.

The escape began last Tuesday when 25 Highland cattle broke free from Metsänoja Highland farm in Juupajoki. Most returned within 20 minutes, but five bulls remain at large. By Monday morning, 20 had been recovered, leaving five still missing, said farm owner Mico Pasuri.

Pasuri described the animals as skittish, likely to bolt when encountering humans. They have stayed within roughly two kilometres of the farm.

Search efforts expand with drones and volunteers
Since the escape, the farm has organised searches with staff, acquaintances, and a local hunting club. On Sunday, a public call for help on social media drew around 30 volunteers, who formed human chains to guide the cattle toward familiar paths.

“The animals turn back when approached from the opposite direction—they follow their own tracks home,” Pasuri explained. The farm also uses a drone to locate the cattle, and on Sunday, the Pirkanmaa Rescue Department assisted with a thermal-imaging drone.

Highland cattle last escaped from the same farm last autumn, though such incidents are not annual. Pasuri suspects a recent bear sighting near the farm may have startled the animals, though wolves—another potential cause—have not been spotted nearby.