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Emu Evades Police in Four-Hour Eastern Shore Chase
1 Jun
Summary
- An emu escaped and led police on a four-hour chase.
- The bird was eventually safely returned to its owners.
- Emus are fast, agile, and difficult to capture.
On Saturday, May 31, Maryland State Police initiated a pursuit of an emu that had escaped and entered the roadway near Salisbury. The large, flightless bird proved surprisingly adept at evading capture for nearly four hours.
Troopers employed various methods to corner the animal, but the emu's speed and agility made the task challenging. A passing vehicle struck the emu around 1:50 p.m., but the bird, weighing approximately 110 to 130 pounds, sustained no injuries.
The pursuit finally concluded around 3 p.m. when officers managed to secure the emu with a dog leash and safely return it to its owners. This incident highlights the difficulty in handling emus, which can run at speeds up to 30 mph and are known for their unpredictable behavior, echoing historical challenges like the Great Emu War in Australia.
Emus have been raised as livestock in the United States since the 1980s, primarily for their oil, meat, and leather. Maryland's Eastern Shore, with its agricultural landscape, is conducive to such farming operations. Owning emus is legal in Maryland, provided appropriate fencing is maintained.
