The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving about two reports a day of a strange sight—an emu that appears to be on a migration path in the wrong direction for this time of year, traveling north and west through the county. The latest spotting, today (Wednesday) occurred near 170th Street and I Avenue, just west of Goose Lake State Park to the southeast of Churdan. Sheriff, Jack Williams, says the emu was first seen in Boone County last week, but authorities have not yet identified an owner. They have contacted experts with the Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and area emu farms to not only help with figuring out where the loose flightless bird belongs, but also to get help in safely capturing and housing it. Williams says this is not a typical call for his officers and they are simply not equipped to catch, transport or deal with this type of animal event. It may not be all that easy to capture this Australian native as it is reported they can run at speeds reaching up to 31 miles per hour and can travel for long distances. These are the second largest birds in the world, living between 10 and 20 years in the wild and are extremely nomadic in nature—which does help explain why this one has decided to take a walking tour of the region. Anyone who sees the emu is asked to keep their distance. Emus have some of the strongest legs in the animal kingdom that are reportedly powerful enough to tear down metal fences. When threatened, they elongate their necks and make a loud hissing and thumping sound. If you see the rogue emu, please contact your local authorities with an exact location.
