FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — An escaped Alaska goat continued to elude capture despite a widely shared social media request by animal control officers for public assistance, officials said.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control officers were on the lookout for the goat first reported missing Monday around 10 a.m., The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Tuesday.

The male goat was still on the loose as of noon Tuesday.

The animal is used to being in a herd and is not a pet, said animal control operations manager Sandy Hill.

"He's very savvy. That's why the public can also help us," Hill said. "We definitely encourage folks who have ideas to let us know. Our main concern is public safety and making sure that he stays off the roadways."

Animal control officials asked the public to contact a law enforcement phone number in a social media post that was shared more than 500 times.

"Folks are pretty good about letting us know where he is, so we're going to try a few of the other tricks up our sleeve," Hill said.

Sightings by area residents were shared on Facebook. A message posted at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday included photographs of the animal and a message reading, "Someone missing a goat in the Wilcox area?"

The goal of animal control officers was to "gently herd" the goat into an area with natural barriers such as high fences, Hill said.

"There's people rooting for the goat and people who have ideas for capture," she said. "Another goat may help. We shall see. Goats tend to like to be in a herd, so we may be able to try that. We're going to keep trying until we capture him."

___

Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com