BETHLEHEM, N.Y., April 24 (UPI) -- Fifteen buffalo that escaped from a farm near Albany, N.Y., were shot and killed in a scene straight out of the "wild west," the local sheriff said.
The small herd escaped from GEM Farms -- where bison are raised for meat -- in Rensselaer County on Thursday afternoon and crossed the Hudson River.
The bison also crossed Interstate 90, causing some concern the animals might be a danger to people.
George Mesick, the owner of the animals, had hoped he might be able to capture the animals and return them to the farm, but as Thursday turned to Friday that hope waned.
"There is a zero percent chance of getting them back right now, I think," he told the Albany Times Union. "I just want to get this done with as fast as possible so that no one gets hurt."
Members of the family that owns the animals shot the bison to prevent any danger to humans. Bison can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and are capable of stampeding up to 30 miles per hour.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple had to briefly detain one of the hunters for allegedly "blindly" shooting at the animals. There was some concern the shots might go wild and injure a person.
"It was turning into the wild, wild west. It was ridiculous," Apple said.
