A Herd of Escaped Yaks Paid a Surprise Visit to an Ohio Middle School
Ohio had an unusual visitor on Monday when five yaks decided to take a trip to Indian Lake Middle School. Around lunchtime, a group of sixth-grade teachers spotted the unexpected guests grazing near County Road 91 on the school’s south side. It wasn’t the kind of scene you expect between classes.
The teachers quickly contacted the school office, and staff notified local law enforcement. Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrived soon after and confirmed the yaks had wandered from Hidden Nook Ranch, located about a mile from the school near Lewistown. The animals had made the short trip without incident and seemed perfectly comfortable exploring their new surroundings.
A Lunchtime Adventure Turns Into a Small-Scale Roundup
When deputies, ranch workers, and school staff tried to coax the animals into a trailer, the yaks weren’t having it. They stayed on the grass and seemed to be enjoying their unscheduled outing. Deputies closed the school’s exits and cleared County Road 91 for safety, while the school posted real-time updates on social media describing the lighthearted scene.
Facilities directors Matt Hurley and Dustin Plikerd soon joined the effort. Using several gates, they helped form a temporary pen and worked with deputies and the ranch owners to guide the yaks toward the trailer. It took a bit of teamwork and patience, but eventually, the herd decided it was time to go home.
A Yak Fact You Probably Didn’t Know
After the yaks were safely returned to Hidden Nook Ranch, the school’s social media team added an extra bit of trivia for curious readers. A group of yaks can be called a herd, but the terms drove, gang, or trip can also be used. That fun fact capped off what had become one of the most memorable Mondays in the school’s history.
By the end of the day, calm returned to Indian Lake Middle School, but the story had already made its way around the community and beyond. News outlets picked it up, and locals couldn’t help smiling at the idea of yaks wandering through their town. It’s the kind of lighthearted moment people love to share, a break from routine that gives everyone something to talk about.
For the students and teachers who witnessed it firsthand, the yak visit is sure to be a story they’ll tell for years. After all, not many schools can say their lunch break included a herd of yaks making themselves at home right outside the classroom window.