This Dec. 29, 2015 photo provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services shows an emu that was found in rural Riverside County, currently being held at the agency's San Jacinto Valley Animal campus in San Jacinto, Calif. The elusive 6-foot flightless bird, first spotted last several days ago wandering the Aguanga area south of Hemet, and was rounded up by a rancher. Officials say the bird is tame, and is likely someoneâs pet. (Carra Mathewson/Riverside County Department of Animal Services via AP)
The Associated Press
HEMET, Calif. (AP) - An elusive emu that avoided capture for days has been rounded up by a rancher in Southern California.
The 6-foot flightless bird was first spotted last weekend wandering the rural Aguanga area south of Hemet, but an animal services officer was unable to track it down.
Animal Services spokesman John Welsh says the big birds native to Australia are known for running very fast.
A rancher managed to corral the emu into a fenced-in 5-acre area Tuesday. He gave the bird food and later helped animal services officers coax it into a trailer.
The Press-Enterprise reports (http://bit.ly/1TpwVrY ) the emu was brought to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where it will be held until its owner claims it.
Officials say the bird is tame, and is likely someone's pet.
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Information from: The Press-Enterprise, http://www.pe.com
This Dec. 29, 2015 photo provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services shows an emu that was found in rural Riverside County, being held at the agency's San Jacinto Valley Animal campus in San Jacinto, Calif. The elusive 6-foot flightless bird, first spotted last several days ago wandering the Aguanga area south of Hemet, was rounded up by a rancher. Officials say the bird is tame, and is likely someoneâs pet. (Carra Mathewson/Riverside County Department of Animal Services via AP)
The Associated Press