Deputies safely capture loose emu near U.S. 36 in Vermillion County

VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. — Sheriff’s deputies in Vermillion County responded to an unusual type of call this week.

According to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to State Road 63 and U.S. 36 around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to locate an emu. Vermillion County Dispatch said several callers reported that an emu was observed in the area.

The deputies eventually found the loose emu on State Road 63 north of U.S. 36

VCSO said deputies concocted a plan to capture the animal by utilizing a “long dog lead” that was laid out with a loop in an attempt to catch the emu by one of its legs. If the deputies captured the emu by its neck, this would cause harm to the roaming animal.

The lead was then wrapped around the emu’s leg, bringing the large bird to the ground. The emu was then brought onto a livestock trailer and reunited with its owners, VCSO said.

A portion of the body cam footage depicting the deputies as they captured the emu safely can be viewed here .

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