On Friday afternoon, the University of Iowa Office of Strategic Communication released a statement asking residents to be on the lookout for a rogue animal:
The animal was last seen near Brown Deer Golf Course late morning Friday. Although the animal is in excellent health and poses no public health risk, members of the public who spot the animal are encouraged to call UI Public Safety at 319-335-5022. UI veterinarians say it’s possible the animal will seek out food in residential areas.
The male goat is white and cream, weighs about 125 pounds, and is about the size of a small deer.
University of Iowa Public Safety, Coralville Police, Coralville City Animal Control, members of the UI Office of Animal Resources and UI veterinarians responded immediately Friday morning to assist with the search for the animal.
The health and safety of animals used for research is of paramount importance and the university is investigating the cause of the incident to prevent it from happening again. In compliance with federal regulations, the UI has reported the incident to funding agencies and appropriate regulatory bodies.
Additionally, the Office of Research and Economic Development, which oversees the Office of Animal Resources, has suspended research activities for the lab responsible for the animal pending further investigation into the incident.
