Farm animals, wild animals, exotic pets – if you see an animal where you’ve never seen it before, you may be in North Carolina.
Once when driving home from work, I passed a horse running along with traffic in the median of a divided interstate. I was in the far-right lane and called 911. The operator sounded bored and told me that she already knew. Presumably a regular occurrence, the “Horse Races Cars on the Interstate” story didn’t make the local news.
Here’s a collection of highlights from out-of-place animals in 2024 that did make the news.
Goats on the Lam in Western North Carolina
If you’ve never seen trip of goats running on the side of the highway as they’re being chased down by the authorities, you’ve got to see this. A lot of effort to corral such cute escapees.
Longhorn Cattle Break Down Fence and Escape Farm Life
Three Texas Longhorns got loose from their enclosure in Cumberland Farm soon after arriving from Indiana. Vivian, Madeline and Imperial Baron, a prize-winning bull, supposedly got spooked one night and jumped the fence.
On the “Watch Out Cumberland County” Facebook page, Chris commented, “I just knew more animals were coming on this page… What animals are next?…”
Good news for the public, these animals were found and returned home.
Miniature Horse Pals Around Then Visits Elementary School
A miniature horse breaks free, finds a pal, roams about the neighborhood, then visits an elementary school in Greensboro.
Massive Pythons Slither into the Neighborhood
After three nonvenomous pythons were found in a subdivision of single family homes in June 2024, police warned the public to be on the lookout for more. Authorities believe the the pythons were pets that either escaped or were intentionally released.
Pythons can weigh from 7 ounces to 250 pounds and from 23 inches to 33 feet long.
Emus Run Wild in Pfafftown
Emus got loose again in NC, like they did in 2023 and 2022. While this newest story doesn’t have any video, below is a short look at an emu loose in our neighboring state, South Carolina, in 2024 with some local commentary.
5-Foot Iguana Lumbers Through Raleigh Neighborhood
Iguanas are not indigenous to North Carolina, so you normally don’t see them in town. But as popular reptile pets, they occasionally break free or are intentionally released.
Police asked for the public to report any other reptile sightings in the city.
Thankfully, this one was found and taken to a NC Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Hybrid Serval Strolls on Emerald Isle Beach
Beachgoers expect to see the dogs walking on the beach, not a wild African cat.
However, Mia Swift likes to walk her large, lean cat at the beach.
“They are retreat animals. They’re not attack animals … As long as people let him enjoy his space, he’s perfectly fine,” said Swift in the video below.
Yes, it’s not like children ever run up to unfamiliar animals to pet them.
A hybrid serval or Savannah cat is a serval crossed with a domestic cat which is legal to own as a pet in North Carolina. And the beach allows you to walk your hybrid serval as long as you use a leash, clean up after them, and don’t create a nuisance.
That’s a round-up of farm animals, wild animals, and exotic pets in unexpected places … the most memorable animals in North Carolina news in 2024. Fortunately, no one was harmed during these animals’ escapades.
Karen M. Free 