To the editor:

I wanted to respond to the many people that have reached out after the Sept. 10 article about my calf.

In early May, we had moved a large number of calves and yearlings to our Dublin farm. The calves were being weaned from their mothers, and were not happy about the move. Unfortunately, the clip on the solar panel popped off and during the night they decided to look for their mothers. Several police departments were involved as 16 of the calves were wondering about Dublin and West Peterborough. The excitement from the State Police emergency lights dispersed the herd into multiple groups. Several of them wandered back to the pasture. Nine of them wandered to the Green Grocer parking lot a few days later, but one was on its own. During the summer, it had been spotted numerous times in the MacDowell Dam area. The rangers at the dam were very helpful notifying us and helping to search. We also searched numerous times.

This paper implied last week that I suggested that free-ranging cattle was a practice that could be used locally. I want to point out that this is not something I recommend in New England and it is unfortunate that they attributed that statement to me.

In August, the calf was spotted several times in the same area by a neighbor who was very helpful notifying us when she saw calf on an abutting neighbor’s property. We proceeded to train the calf by giving it a treat of grain and molasses. We were somewhat successful in creating a regular time for it to visit. On multiple occasions, we attempted to ‘walk’ it back to our pastures but were unsuccessful. We then contacted the Peterborough Police Department to see if they could assist in tranquilizing the calf so that we could return it to the pasture. Unfortunately, some dogs chased it away and it was several days until the routine started again.

Another neighbor that the calf visited regularly called over the Labor Day weekend to inform me of his displeasure with the situation. To be respectful of his property and to avoid conflict I offered to euthanize the calf. I contacted a respected hunter to carry out the unfortunate deed. But evidently the calf was scared off again, evidently by a very different set of circumstances, and has not been seen.

The calf appears to be very healthy and quite attractive looking. The story isn’t over yet, I don’t really want to euthanize this calf but I want to be respectful of other landowners. Possibly there will be another outcome.

I want to thank everyone that has been involved in helping in this effort over the summer. It is very much appreciated to have the support from the community.

Stan Fry

Peterborough