The reckless ram was running amok on State Highway 1 early on Wednesday afternoon.
It was jumping on the road, showing off his impressive horns and an indifference to his and motorists’ safety.
Police officers, including the head of road policing in Southern district, and Dunedin City Council animal control officers had to come together to muster the menacing ram.
Southern road policing manager Inspector Tania Baron said she and another officer corralled it into a gully using their patrol cars.
"I grew up on a farm. I know all about rams, hence why I used the patrol car to muster him rather than my legs," she said.
Council animal control officer Alister Wilden then used a crook to control the animal.
"It’s horns are certainly impressive but they were quite handy when I dragged it out of the gully," he said.
"They were like handlebars."
The ram was taken to the council’s stock pound were it was hoped it would be reunited with its owner. If not, the animal would go to auction, Mr Wilden said.
Insp Baron said the truck driver who reported the ram’s raid said it had caused issues on Northern Motorway on previous occasions.
It was also not the first time Mr Wilden encountered the ram.
A fortnight ago he butted heads with it (almost literally) in Pine Hill.
He suspected it came from a lifestyle block in the Pine Hill Rd or Campbells Rd area.The teamwork displayed by Insp Baron and Mr Wilden was unsurprising as the pair went to Police College together.
"Twenty-one years ago we were on the same plane together going to the Police College, talking about how we were going to make a difference and solve all the world’s problems, and 21 years later here we are, we made the big time," Insp Baron said, with a laugh.
