Authorities have ramped up efforts around North Bend, Washington, as the search for a still-at-large zebra enters its third day. The zebra, which made an unexpected getaway on Sunday, is one of four that escaped a trailer on I-90 en route to Montana. According to FOX 13 Seattle, despite three of the zebras being secured shortly after their escape, one male zebra continues to outmaneuver attempts at capture – raising concerns among local officials for public safety and the animal's well-being.

Kick-starting the search efforts, local musician Bob Antone immortalized the event in a song, and residents, alongside King County Animal Control, maintain a vigilant lookout. Amy McGhee, manager of the South Fork General Store, said, "It's whimsical, unbelievable, it's fun, it's magical to imagine a zebra running in our woods," in an interview with Seattle Refined. A report of a sighting near the Snoqualmie Trail area came in about a day into the operation, but by the time officers arrived on the scene, the fleet-footed zebra had vanished.

The peculiar situation has stirred the community and even birthed spontaneous efforts from bystanders to aid in the capture. Dan Barnett of North Bend recounted how he and other drivers, confronted with the sight of zebras on the loose, attempted to create a makeshift barrier with their vehicles to prevent the animals from accessing a highway ramp. "A little bit of disbelief, and really just, how can we help?” Barnett told KING 5.

Despite these civilian efforts and continual patrol commitments by area animal control, the zebra's elusiveness has made its prompt retrieval challenging. The zebras' owner, who has since continued her journey to Montana with the other three, expressed hope that the remaining zebra can be found unharmed. The public is enamored with the runaway zebra's adventure, with videos of its escapades shared widely across social media on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, local authorities ask anyone who spots the zebra to report the sighting but stress the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the wild animal.