Peacock escaped from petting zoo in frigid cold, dies

WEST DUNDEE, Ill., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A peacock recovering from a case of frozen feet after spending about 90 minutes on the loose in subzero temperatures has died, Dundee, Ill., zoo officials said.

Blue, the peacock, was rescued from a tree Tuesday after escaping from the Randall Oaks Barnyard Zoo. He had lived at the petting zoo for about five years, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Tom Mammoser, executive director of the Dundee Township Park District, told the newspaper the bird "expired" despite efforts by a veterinarian to save it.

Blue made a dash for freedom Tuesday and ended up on top of a pine tree in Randall Oaks Park near his heated pen, the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported Wednesday.

Officials called the West Dundee Fire Department, and Fire Chief Randy Friese said rescuers arrived with a 100-foot ladder.

Firefighters took Assistant Zoo Manager Kristin Wuestenfeld up in the ladder's bucket and she was able to free Blue, whose feet had become frozen to the branch in the minus 12 degree weather.