After six days, the North Bend zebra was finally cornered, but the method was questioned by locals

A zebra that had been loose in the woods near Snoqualmie and North Bend since Sunday has finally been trapped, but locals are questioning the methods behind its capture.

Last weekend, four zebras escaped from a trailer east of Seattle, and three of them were quickly recaptured.

The fourth, a mare named Shug, evaded capture for nearly a week.

The zebras were being transported from Washington to Montana when the driver stopped his trailer to secure it when the zebras got loose and invaded a nearby neighborhood.

On Friday, King County officials closed trail access points along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in the Boxley Creek Natural Area and discouraged hikers and dogwalkers from using the areas as they worked to protect the animal.

In a statement from Regional Animal Services of King County, the mare was safely captured and will be transported to Montana. Private citizens with animal control officers worked to make the rescue Friday night.

The zebra appeared to be in good condition, according to RASKC.

Additionally, on Friday evening, KIRO 7 News received a call from Susan Burk of North Bend, who was working with Dallas Clark on behalf of the zebra’s owner to facilitate the capture of the zebra.

In a statement, Burk and Clark say the following occurred:

This evening we were notified that there was a group of trucks with horse trailers parked near where the zebra was seen. These vehicles had stickers that said “Zebra Roundup Crew” with sponsorship from Inspire Homes.

The group’s leaders, David and Julie Danton, owners of Embrace Horsemanship and Inspire, were at the original property where the first 3 zebras were captured. Julie Danton was removed from the property that day and David was told he was also not welcome at the property.

When we approached the group to let them know we were handling the zebra rescue, Julie stated that they were working with the veterinarian, the sheriff’s office, and the owner.

We confirmed that the vet who came to the first rescue, an equine specialist with experience working with zebras in Africa, who was working with us, had not been involved with them.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed they were not involved and would not go to the location unless the group trespassed on private property.

The owner of the property where we are working confirmed that he was not welcome there.

Once I was able to speak to the zebra’s owner, she confirmed that she wanted us to continue our work where we were and that she had hired them to work in her area.

We worked all week to get the zebra into an area where he felt comfortable. We set up feeding stations and worked with King County to close nearby trails as cyclists and hikers with off-leash dogs scared the zebra.

We installed metal panels today and the vet was scheduled to tranquilize the zebra tomorrow so she could be safely transported to a transport vehicle.

We spoke with the owner on a three-way call with the veterinarian, who advised her that we should be allowed to continue our efforts and that the other team should stand down. Despite this, the decision was made to let that group continue.

The mountain bikers, who work for the Danton group, entered the closed trails and removed the zebra from our area and took it to the place where they are working.

The Danton group currently keeps the zebra in a pen made of metal panels. She’s limping. David Danton unfurled a banner on the property with his company name, Inspired Homes. They are not taking steps to move her to a safe transport vehicle. As David Danton unfurled banners for his business at the site, we believe he is waiting for the media to arrive to ensure the zebra is quickly transported to a safe location.

We are a group of local residents who care about the zebra and work with their best interests in mind. We don’t ask for money or media attention. Ultimately, we hope she is captured safely and removed from this circus.

David Danton appears in several Facebook videos with North Bend Mayor Mary Miller, wearing a patch that says Zebra Roundup Crew, sponsored by Inspired Homes.