Escaped pet peacock leads to fine
EDMONTON — A peacock that escaped from its north Edmonton backyard has managed to elude fire fighters, police and neighbours by hopping from roof to roof, at one point flying 20 feet up a tree...
EDMONTON — A peacock that escaped from its north Edmonton backyard has managed to elude fire fighters, police and neighbours by hopping from roof to roof, at one point flying 20 feet up a tree then disappearing somewhere in the area.
The ordeal began some time before Saturday morning when Pauline and Patrick McMasters son noticed the massive bird which they estimate stands about two feet high with a four-foot wing span strolling around their back yard.
He immediately shouted at his family to come see the spectacle.
They were all stunned. The fowl boasted a bright green neck and antenna-like feathers sticking up from the top of its head.
It didnt sound like a bird at all, Patrick recalled. It sounded like a small animal.
Pauline called animal control, but the bird eventually left their yard.
On Sunday, the dish she laid out with apple and oatmeal to lure it back remained untouched.
Our concern (is) if the temperature drops, the bird is in trouble, she said.
Several neighbours have played a role in the rescue effort, which culminated Sunday morning with fire crews attempting to bring the bird down from a large tree.
They succeeded, but it promptly flapped away, leaving animal control officers without a trail to follow.
In the meantime, they tracked down the birds owner to a home nearby at 154 Avenue and 102 Street. He had another similar white bird escape around a year ago.
Now, hes facing a hefty fine, animal control officers say.
(Peacocks) are prohibited animals in city limits, said Shayleen Belick, a city peace officer, after ticketing the man $500.
If caught, the bird will be turned over to the city pound, which will likely find it a home at the Valley Zoo, she added.
Shortly before talking to the police, the owner, who did not give his name, said he had clipped the birds wings about a year ago, but reasoned they must have grown back, allowing it to fly out of the backyard pen.
Theyre therapeutic, he said, adding its nice to see their colourful feathers when they spread their wings.
That might be true, but theyre still illegal to own in Edmonton, animal control says.
Theyre not the type of animal that belongs in a city, Belick said.
If anyone spots the bird, theyre asked to try and capture it with a blanket and call animal control.
alyssa.noel@sunmedia.ca