An elk that broke free in Lehigh Township Friday afternoon has been safely returned to its owner.

Township police Chief Scott Fogel said that at around 3:45 p.m. Friday, police were notified that a large male elk had escaped from a pen on Peach Drive in the Danielsville section of the township.

Fogel said the elk was loose until about 4:30 p.m. Sunday when a resident from Monroe Street flagged down an officer that the elk was in the area of the pond on his property.

He said township police and Pennsylvania Game Commission Officer Tyler Barnes responded to the area and located the elk, which was tranquilized by Barnes and returned to its owner.

Fogel said there are three farms in the township where elk are kept.

“On occasion, an elk will get loose by a break in a fence, usually caused by storm damage, or sometimes if the elk damages a fence,” Fogel said. “People should keep in mind that elk are not domesticated, and maintain a safe distance.”

Lehigh Township originally posted information on its Facebook page about the missing elk and said wind took down a tree that damaged the owner’s fence.