During recent rains in Sonoma County, firefighters faced the unusual challenge of rescuing Bob, a 2,000-pound, 15-year-old Holstein steer stuck in a ravine for hours. After about three hours of coordinated effort between Graton Fire, Northern Sonoma County Fire, and Bob’s family, they successfully hoisted the steer to safety late at night.

The rescue highlighted the complexity of handling large animals, with assistance from the Halter Project, a Glen Ellen-based organization specializing in large animal rescues. Thanks to this collaboration, Sonoma County now has two dedicated large animal rescue teams led by the Graton and Sonoma Valley Fire Districts.