HORIZON CITY, Texas, March 3 (UPI) -- Authorities in El Paso County, Texas, say an emu died in custody after going on a rampage on an interstate, attacking deputies and disrupting traffic.
El Paso County sheriff's spokeswoman Chris Acosta said deputies found the emu, a large flightless bird, on Interstate 10 Tuesday. The escaped bird caused problems for morning commuters in Horizon City, Texas, the El Paso (Texas) Times reported.
As deputies and citizens attempted to corral the emu, the bird turned on the law enforcement officials, slashing one deputy's pant leg.
The sheriff's department said the animal was eventually captured and was sent to the Animal Control Shelter. While en route to the site, the emu died of unknown causes.
The Times said the sheriff's department also dealt with an escaped emu in February. The bird involved in the Feb. 26 incident in El Paso was successfully captured and handed over to an animal caretaker.
