Life

Peacock captured after roaming loose in Niagara

NIAGARA, Wis. -- Niagara Police had to deal this week with a different kind of "fugitive" -- an escaped peacock.

Niagara Police Chief Michael Chapman said he received a call Monday morning about a peacock roaming around someone's backyard in Niagara Heights.

With the homeowner's help, they were able corral the large bird in a corner and wrap it in a blanket "without incident," he said.

The department later posted on Facebook, "Witnesses report it strutted confidently into custody and did not resist arrest."

They took the peacock to the Almost Home Animal Shelter in Quinnesec, where it was reunited with its owner about an hour later, according to shelter director Diane Luzak, who added it was the shelter's first peacock.

Chapman explained to the homeowner that she could not have the peacock in the city and would have to find a home for it. She mentioned bringing it back to the family farm.

This was Chapman's first peacock while working as well. "The only time I've ever seen a peacock was in a zoo. I was actually very surprised that it was, in fact, a peacock," he said.

But it was not his first time dealing with a bird on the job. A few weeks ago, he helped get a juvenile goose out of an excavated site on the city's south side.

"It was unable to fly out, so I jumped in there there and wrapped it up in my coat and removed it from the hole," Chapman said.

"It's always an adventure," he added.

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.