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Emu alert! A wild adventure in Valley Springs

A large bird is running amuck in a small Calaveras County community.

A large bird is running amuck in a small Calaveras County community.

Editors note: This story is from January 2017

No one knows where it came from but it's roaming the streets and stopping traffic.

"He showed up three or four days ago. He was sleeping by my son’s house. He just roams around," said Charles White.

The large bird is an emu. It can often be seen walking down Hart Vickson road in Valley Springs. White's son and many of his neighbors have been taking pictures of the Emu as it moves from house to house.

Webster's Dictionary describes an emu as: "A swift-running Australian ratite bird (Dromaius novae-hollandiae) with undeveloped wings that is smaller than the ostrich."

The Valley Springs emu has become quite the attraction.

"We are not sure if it is a male or female but we named it George," said White.

Neighbors have called Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department. Reports were filed with the animal control officer but action has been slow due to the New Year’s holiday.

It turns out 'George' is a female. Calaveras County Animal Control caught up with the emu a few days after this report. Animal Control renamed the emu 'Rockstar' because the bird is now famous and they had to chase the bird up a rocky hillside.

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