PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — The Prince George's County Department of the Environmental (DoE) is asking folks to not feed the Maryland zebras if they come in contact with them.
DoE told WUSA9 that since the three zebras escaped in August, they have been actively inspecting the property every couple of days to keep track of their whereabouts.
They said they continue to monitor their health and safety and are making sure that they do not pose a threat to the community. But, in the meantime, DOE asks drivers in the area to be cautious and not approach the zebras if they see them.
"The public should also not feed or attempt to encourage the zebras to remain anywhere off the owner's property unless with the explicit permission of the DoE,” the county's DoE told WUSA9 in a statement Monday.
Meanwhile, Save The Zebras Foundation--a group founded by two Maryland locals-- has been on the lookout for the wild animals and has even raised funds from the community to feed and capture them.
According to the foundation's Facebook page, Prince George's County Animal Control has reached out to them urging them to stop their efforts.
The group said in their social media post that they will be removing their feeding stations, water troughs, and cameras. They added that donations from the community will no longer be needed after raising nearly $1,500.
"You all earned your stripes through support, donations, help and genuine care that followed our mission, which we formally announce our mission to Save the Zebras is complete," Bethany Petrie and Theodore McKensie said in a letter.
View the full post below:
McKenzie and Petrie launched the Save the Zebras Foundation after McKenzie discovered the gruesome, decomposed remains of one of the zebras on Oct. 16 after it had been caught in an illegal snare. McKenzie, the caretaker of a property neighboring the farm where the zebras escaped, said he found additional snares set along the fence line.
Maryland Natural Resources Police are leading the investigation into the illegal snare sets.
The owner of the zebras, Jerry Lee Holly, was charged with three animal cruelty-related charges, after a second zebra, which was still captive on Holly's farm, was found dead by authorities, according to court documents. No cause of death was revealed.
McKenzie and Petrie had set remote game cameras to monitor the movement of the free-roaming escapees. They hauled large amounts of hay and other feed into the area to keep the escapees fed and secure.
The couple launched a GoFundMe and Facebook campaign in hopes of raising enough money to continue caring for the escaped zebras.