Cottonwood, Arizona – After two days on the run, an emu named Frank was finally captured in Cottonwood, bringing an unusual wildlife chase to an end.

The Cottonwood Police Department responded after multiple 911 calls reported the emu running through traffic and attempting to attack people. “Our dispatch started getting calls there was an emu walking through the parking lot of our Walmart here in town and trying to attack people,” Officer Kellen Burnes told KPNX-TV.

One caller even mistook the Australian bird for a baby giraffe, highlighting the surreal nature of the chase.

Frank’s speed made capture difficult. “They can run about 30 miles an hour, and I guess he had on the afterburners that day,” Burnes said.

Officers and animal control eventually used a key piece of animal trivia to their advantage: emus cannot walk backward. This allowed them to corner Frank against a fence and take him into custody safely.

“Frank is doing well. Now he’s back on his property,” Burnes confirmed, bringing relief to both residents and officers after the two-day pursuit.

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