Emu captured after two weeks on the loose in Indiana

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- An escaped emu who became a local celebrity in an Indiana county is safely back at home, the flightless bird's owner said.

Sam Messmer, owner of Messmer Farms in Linton, said one of his emus, named Rigby, went over a fence to escape his enclosure while Messmer was on a hiking trip.

Rigby was spotted in various locations around Greene County during his two weeks on the loose.

"He went obviously all the way down the highway and went all the way into Jasonville," Messmer told WTWO/WAWV. "He circled back a couple times pretty close to here and then he took off down towards Lone Tree, in the woods, through corn fields and soy bean fields."

Messmer said he and his friends attempted several different strategies to recapture Rigby.

"We had all sorts of traps and contraptions that we came up with," Messmer said. "Eventually just a good 'ole rope laid on the ground; lead him into it, snagged him."

Messmer said Rigby became so popular with locals during his time on the loose that the farmer ended up creating an Etsy shop to sell T-shirts bearing the bird's likeness.

Messmer said he is planning to install a taller fence to keep Rigby from escaping in the future.