Emu causes traffic back-up, hours-long pursuit on Maryland highway

SALISBURY, Md. - An escaped emu brought traffic to a crawl and led Maryland State Police on a lengthy pursuit over the weekend after the large flightless bird wandered onto a highway outside Salisbury.

According to Maryland State Police, troopers responded to reports of the runaway emu on the Salisbury Bypass at approximately 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, May 30. What followed was an unusual chase that lasted more than three hours as officers attempted to safely capture the bird.

Emu causes traffic back-up on Maryland highway

Big picture view:

Video recorded by James and Natalie Binder shows the emu striding along the shoulder of the highway while a state trooper cautiously approaches. 

Despite multiple efforts to contain it, the bird repeatedly evaded capture, prompting a prolonged pursuit along the busy roadway.

Around 1:30 p.m., the emu was struck by a vehicle while attempting to escape. Fortunately, authorities said the bird was not injured and continued running.

Troopers finally brought the pursuit to an end at about 2 p.m., telling video licensing company Storyful that they "were able to catch the emu with a dog leash."

The emu was returned to its owners. No injuries to motorists, troopers, or the emu were reported.

Emus can run up to 30 mph

Local perspective:

The emu is a large, flightless bird native to Australia. It is the second-tallest bird in the world, surpassed only by the ostrich, according to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.

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Emus are uncommon in the United States. While not endangered in their native Australia, their U.S. population sits around 12,000 to 13,000 birds spread across roughly 1,500 small-scale farms, zoos, and private residences.

Because they can run up to 30 mph and travel across county or state lines, they pose unique traffic and safety hazards.

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