Elusive emu finally caught

An elusive emu that avoided capture for days has been rounded up by a rancher in Southern California.

Hemet: An elusive emu that avoided capture for days has been rounded up by a rancher in Southern California.

Pic/AFP

The 6-ft 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 on Tuesday. He gave the bird food and later helped animal services officers coax it into a trailer.

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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