CARY - A steer that escaped on his way to slaughter this afternoon was caught in Wake County near Cary and is on his way back to his farm.

The steer was found in the backyard of a house off Loch Highlands Drive, said Cary spokeswoman Susan Moran. Cary police and Wake County sheriff's officials were on the scene.

The owner erected a portable corral, Moran said, and planned to lure the steer in the corral by using his "favorite female pal."

"At the moment reinforcements showed up to take him forcibly, he chose to go into the corral," Moran said. "And he amiably ambled into the trailer."

The steer, known as R-15, escaped while being taken to go his "final resting place," Moran said.

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