Trespassing Livestock

Overview:

Livestock in Iowa are kept in pens, pastures, or barns, but unfortunately sometimes an animal gets loose. These trespassing livestock may cause damage to someone else’s property or get out onto a highway. The law in Iowa has addressed the remedy for these situations. 

Initial Response:

If livestock roams onto land belonging to someone other than the livestock producer, the landowner or the county may take custody of the animal. Though they are allowed to take custody, there is no obligation to do so. If the landowner decides to act, the first step is to contact the likely livestock producer to have them retrieve their animal. However, if the livestock producer is not found quickly and the landowner does not want to house the animal, the...