COLORADO NEWS

It’s not everyday there’s a loose emu in Colorado, but today there was

Mar 5, 2024, 4:50 PM

According to Wikipedia, the emu is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia, where it is the largest native bird… In other words, unless you’re at a zoo you’re likely not going to see emu in Colorado. So I bet animal control was a little surprised when they got called about a loose one today, right? 

Weld County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officers responded to a report of an “ostrich in the roadway” earlier today (Mar 5th). 

The “ostrich” turned out to be an emu who was out wandering in the area of Weld County Road 76 and County Road 33. County animal control officers were able to capture and contain the bird, and safely hold the emu in a nearby fenced residential yard, with permission from the owner.

A passerby was able to identify the emu’s owner as Andrew Leffler, who was notified and picked up his emu, who he said was named Buddy.

“We got lucky,” Leffler told WCSO officers after Buddy was safely loaded up in his trailer and the ordeal was over. “We are grateful Buddy is back home with his family, and Mr. Leffler allowed us to share this delightful story with you,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an Instagram post.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Weld County Sheriff’s Office (@weldcountysheriffsoffice)

Colorado News

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

What year is this? Barnes & Nobel to expand in Colorado in 2026

The first thing Amazon nearly made extinct was bookstores because that’s what they were first. So you’d think as the retail giant just keeps getting bigger bookstores would have no […]

14 hours ago

Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for SeriesFest...

Shawn Patrick

Only one venue in America had more visitors in 2025 than Colorado’s Red Rocks

When you have the most beautiful place to see a concert in the world, people will come check it out. In 2025 A TON of folks did just that at […]

14 hours ago

Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Anonymous donor covers ER fees for pets at Colorado animal hospital on Christmas

Sure, the gifts and the cookies are great, but to me, this is what Christmas is all about! On Christmas morning, an anonymous donor paid emergency room fees for pet owners at […]

14 hours ago

Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Colorado among the top five states people moved out of most in 2025

There was a time not long ago when everyone wanted to live in Colorado, but something has changed in a major way! United Van Lines has just come out with […]

14 hours ago

HELGOLAND, GERMANY - AUGUST 03:  A live adult female European lobster (Homarus gammarus) lies on th...

Brailey Jones

FBI Investigating $400,000 Lobster Heist Bound for Costco

If you were planning to serve Costco lobster at your New Year’s Eve celebration… you might need a backup plan. A truckload of lobster worth nearly $400,000 was reportedly hijacked […]

20 hours ago

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 06: Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos huddles with teammates a...

Brailey Jones

Broncos Are Back on Top: First Division Title Since 2015

With the Chargers’ loss to the Texans today, Denver has clinched its first division title since 2015 — ending years of Kansas City dominance and reclaiming the crown in the […]

3 days ago

It’s not everyday there’s a loose emu in Colorado, but today there was