The search for a 150-pound emu on the loose in Nanaimo took flight on Twitter Wednesday.
Lucy, a 16-year-old emu, took advantage of an open gate and fled Tim Genner鈥檚 home in Cassidy on Sunday.
The bird is believed to have gone up Nanaimo River Road and back into town on Nanaimo Lakes Road. It was spotted Tuesday in Colliery Dam Park and near 91原创 Island University.
Emus can鈥檛 fly but can run at a pace that exceeds city speed limits.
Lucy is actually a male, but by the time his gender was discovered the name had stuck, said Genner.
鈥淟ucy the Emu鈥� popped up on Twitter Wednesday, and by 9 p.m. the account had about 185 followers.
鈥淚鈥檓 a friendly 150-lb flightless bird roaming the streets of Nanaimo 鈥� I enjoy freedom, grapes and emu puns,鈥� said the description.
The jokes have travelled faster than an emu as the story spread through the media. 鈥淣ot a flight risk,鈥� said one report, referring to the emu鈥檚 inability to fly.
At 3:45 p.m., Lucy the Emu tweeted: 鈥淓mu to do list: 1) Get Found 2) Get Home Safe. I may be the #EmuOnTheLoose but with your help I won鈥檛 be. Tim鈥檚 waiting 250-591-6131.鈥�
At 4:20 p.m., Lucy tweeted that there was a possible sighting at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Cpl. Dave Boyce of Nanaimo RCMP said Wednesday he wasn鈥檛 aware of any recent sightings.
