02/27/2025
The Incredible Story of Bonnie, the Runaway Calf
Bonnie was just four months old when her world turned upside down. The farmer who had raised her passed away, and his family decided to sell the entire herd for slaughter.
As Bonnie watched her family being forced onto a truck, their panicked cries filled the air. In that terrifying moment, she made a choiceâshe ran.
Bonnie bolted into the woods, disappearing into the thick trees. Everyone thought she wouldnât last a week. A farm calf had no chance in the wild, right?
Trail cameras soon captured an incredible sightâBonnie wasnât alone. She had found an unexpected family: a herd of wild deer. They accepted her, moved with her, and even protected her. With no cows around, the deer became her new herd, teaching her how to survive.
For eight months, Bonnie lived as a wild animalâforaging, hiding from danger, and running with the deer.
Not far from the woods, a woman named Becky Bartels had heard about the brave little calf. Fearing Bonnie wouldnât survive the harsh winter, she started leaving food and fresh bedding for her every day.
But Becky knew Bonnie needed a real homeâsomewhere safe, where she wouldnât have to struggle for food or fear hunters. She reached out to Farm Sanctuary, an organization that rescues animals like Bonnie.
Rescuing Bonnie wasnât easy. She had become a master at hiding, and her trust in humans was fragile. But after multiple attempts, rescuers finally brought Bonnie to safety.
From a destined-for-slaughter calf to a free spirit of the woods, Bonnieâs story is nothing short of legendary.
Similarly case like this was seen in Poland (2021), a young cow escaped from a farm and was later found living with a herd of wild bison.
