CDT/Abby Drey
One of Eddie Agostinelli's emu's in a trailer outside of his home in Boalsburg on March, 25, 2011.
From this morning's Centre Daily Times. Note that it took two reporters to cover this story.
Emu escape ends bittersweetly
Anne Danahy and Ed Mahon
March 26, 2011 1:40am EDT
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — Eddie Agostinelli spent most of this week chasing down emus — long-legged birds that resemble ostriches and are native to Australia. He bought them, hoping to turn a farming hobby into a profession.
The search ended somewhat sadly Friday afternoon, when the last nomadic emu was captured — but died shortly after, apparently from the stress and physical exertion of the chase.
But Agostinelli said he felt relieved that the six-day search was over — and that no person was hurt.
“I’m glad they’re not running free,” said Agostinelli, “I was more worried about them getting hit by a car or someone getting distracted by them” while driving.
The chase began after a lightning storm scared the gray birds from their new home. Agostinelli said they blew through a weak spot in the fence. Emus are known for their strong legs and sharp toenails, which can cut through fencing. And they can run up to 40 mph.
Residents of Harris and College townships had been calling in sightings of the feathered friends. Agostinelli said the two females were rounded up Thursday, and they still seem to be in good health. The male proved to be a trickier catch.
But by Friday, they were closing in on him. A friend of Agostinelli along with Lori Sowash, a health officer for State College borough who also works in animal control, nearly caught him on the bike path where Branch Road crosses U.S. Route 322. But he was elusive.
“I’ve done bear, deer, dogs — you name it. I’ve never chased an emu,” Sowash said.
Police closed in on him behind a backyard garden on Charles Street. Rose Williams said she and her husband, Joseph, were sitting in their sunroom when they saw the tall bird.
“I couldn’t believe it. He said, ‘There’s that bird,’ ” Rose Williams said.
For Joseph Williams, it was the second bird sighting of the day.
“I saw him over in Boalsburg this morning, when I went to get a haircut,” he said. “He’s been around.”
It took four people to capture the 125-pound bird and return him to the trailer where the two females that had been acting as bait were peeking out curiously.
“This is our education,” said Agostinelli, as he caught his breath, shortly after the chase ended. Police said Agostinelli does not face any fines or penalties.
Agostinelli has worked in a variety of fields, including running a restaurant, selling real estate and working in construction. He said he had just gotten the three birds, and six more are on the way. They can grow to 5 or 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, and they can be farmed for meat, leather and oil.
Once one of Agostinelli’s business partners finished chaining up the trailer to a truck, Agostinelli turned to the birds.
“All right,” he said, “time to go home, kids.”
But the male emu died a few hours later, a possibility that Agostinelli had been bracing for since the three escaped.
“I wasn’t sure how he was going to make out. He ran a lot today,” he said, adding that the bird appeared drained after the chase. “He never really came to.”
Still, Agostinelli said the experience hasn’t deterred him from pursuing farming. The financial loss is only about $150, and he is still fascinated by emus.
“They’re really cool animals,” Agostinelli said. “They’re kind of like pets.”
Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648. Ed Mahon can be reached at 231-4619.
But early Sunday morning, shortly after they’d arrived at his Shingletown farm, the two female emus and one male emu escaped.
The search ended somewhat sadly Friday afternoon, when the last nomadic emu was captured — but died shortly after, apparently from the stress and physical exertion of the chase.
But Agostinelli said he felt relieved that the six-day search was over — and that no person was hurt.
“I’m glad they’re not running free,” said Agostinelli, “I was more worried about them getting hit by a car or someone getting distracted by them” while driving.
The chase began after a lightning storm scared the gray birds from their new home. Agostinelli said they blew through a weak spot in the fence. Emus are known for their strong legs and sharp toenails, which can cut through fencing. And they can run up to 40 mph.
Residents of Harris and College townships had been calling in sightings of the feathered friends. Agostinelli said the two females were rounded up Thursday, and they still seem to be in good health. The male proved to be a trickier catch.
But by Friday, they were closing in on him. A friend of Agostinelli along with Lori Sowash, a health officer for State College borough who also works in animal control, nearly caught him on the bike path where Branch Road crosses U.S. Route 322. But he was elusive.
“I’ve done bear, deer, dogs — you name it. I’ve never chased an emu,” Sowash said.
Police closed in on him behind a backyard garden on Charles Street. Rose Williams said she and her husband, Joseph, were sitting in their sunroom when they saw the tall bird.
“I couldn’t believe it. He said, ‘There’s that bird,’ ” Rose Williams said.
For Joseph Williams, it was the second bird sighting of the day.
“I saw him over in Boalsburg this morning, when I went to get a haircut,” he said. “He’s been around.”
It took four people to capture the 125-pound bird and return him to the trailer where the two females that had been acting as bait were peeking out curiously.
“This is our education,” said Agostinelli, as he caught his breath, shortly after the chase ended. Police said Agostinelli does not face any fines or penalties.
Agostinelli has worked in a variety of fields, including running a restaurant, selling real estate and working in construction. He said he had just gotten the three birds, and six more are on the way. They can grow to 5 or 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, and they can be farmed for meat, leather and oil.
Once one of Agostinelli’s business partners finished chaining up the trailer to a truck, Agostinelli turned to the birds.
“All right,” he said, “time to go home, kids.”
But the male emu died a few hours later, a possibility that Agostinelli had been bracing for since the three escaped.
“I wasn’t sure how he was going to make out. He ran a lot today,” he said, adding that the bird appeared drained after the chase. “He never really came to.”
Still, Agostinelli said the experience hasn’t deterred him from pursuing farming. The financial loss is only about $150, and he is still fascinated by emus.
“They’re really cool animals,” Agostinelli said. “They’re kind of like pets.”
Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648. Ed Mahon can be reached at 231-4619.
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