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<p>It&#8217;s a Luzerne County story about a bear, coyotes and pregnant cow that has motorists on alert and a breeder searching for his investment.</p><p>Seasoned motorists automatically watch for deer as they travel Route 940 between White Haven and Freeland, but now they also must be on the lookout for a cow.</p><p>A large &#8220;lost cow&#8221; sign with a phone number recently was posted along the highway by Rick Welker, who breeds animals in an agricultural swath in Foster Township, which is located between the two boroughs in Luzerne County.</p><p>Welker said the pregnant cow, which he acquired earlier this year, was in a corral and fine when he checked her Tuesday night, but she was gone Wednesday morning.</p><p>The usually placid animal escaped by ripping apart gates, convincing Welker she bolted in fear.</p><p>&#8220;I think a bear came close to her and spooked her. A bear has been around lately,&#8221; Welker said.</p><p>Someone saw the cow running along Route 940 around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and in the area of the Hickory Hills residential development near White Haven several hours later, Welker said.</p><p>He posted the sign Wednesday along with his phone number &#8212; (570) 751-3728.</p><p>Welker said he&#8217;s been scouring the woods on foot for hours.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s nowhere to be found. The last anyone saw her, she was alright, but I worry about the coyotes,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The 2-year-old cow had a calf in the spring that was killed by coyotes, he said.</p><p>&#8220;She had the calf close to the fence line, and coyotes drug it off,&#8221; he said.</p><p>She is due again in February.</p><p>A beef cow breed, she is medium-sized and brown and white with four white &#8220;socks&#8221; and patches of white on her face.</p><p>Welker never named her but said he purchased her from a herd in which the owner referred to the animals as &#8220;girls.&#8221;</p><p>He advised anyone who spots her to call out, &#8220;Hey girls&#8221; or &#8220;Here girls.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;She should respond to that,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Welker also has been raising horses at the site, which he calls &#8220;Arrow Woods,&#8221; for about six years and decided to purchase the cow to expand his breeding.</p><p>He said he notified state police of the missing cow and provided his number in case additional reports come in.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Farmer Rick Welker erected a sign on his property along Route 940 in Foster Township publicizing a lost 2-year-old pregnant cow from his farm. He believes the cow was spooked by a black bear and broke free from her corral. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_lostcow1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Farmer Rick Welker erected a sign on his property along Route 940 in Foster Township publicizing a lost 2-year-old pregnant cow from his farm. He believes the cow was spooked by a black bear and broke free from her corral. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Missing cow on the mooove near White Haven