Emer the errant emu found safe after a month trip

[December 16, 2008]  BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (AP) -- Emer the errant emu is home after roaming free across northern Rhode Island for a month.

The fugitive was profiled on television broadcasts. Authorities, area residents and owner Pamela Hood had tried to capture him. Yet he managed to outlast tranquilizer darts, traffic, freezing temperatures and hunger.

Finally on Saturday a Burrillville woman spotted Emer sauntering up her driveway. She walked the 6-foot-tall, 130-pound bird into a horse stall. Four-year-old Emer was 16 miles away from home.

His trek began after a pig nuzzled open the gate on Hood's livestock enclosure.

Emer took off the same night his mate laid an egg. It falls to male emus to sit on eggs for incubation. With its father back, the egg has a better chance of hatching.

[Associated Press]

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