Feral emu caught, possibly adopted

The unclaimed, feral, five-foot emu that's been roaming freely through Minden's many open fields this week was caught by employees of Bently Agrowdynamics, located off Buckeye Road, around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

"The emu is contained and being moved to up the Wild Animal Infirmary for Nevada in Washoe County," said Carol Money, administrative secretary of Don Bently, owner of Agrowdynamics.

Money said the animal would spend at least a week in the infirmary.

"If nobody claims it, it may be possible that Mr. Bently would adopt it," she said.

Matt McKinney, the company's cattle division manager, described capturing the bird.

"We used the corrals at the ranch headquarters," he said. "We walked on foot and used four-wheelers to drive it."

McKinney said it took five men, including himself, to drive the emu, first into the corrals and then into a horse trailer. McKinney said he didn't know if the bird was male or female.

"We gave it some grain and water," he said.

Anyone wishing to claim the emu should call 783-4610.