Bodycam footage released by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is drawing widespread attention after capturing a Florida deputy chasing and restraining a runaway emu during an unusual encounter earlier this month.
The incident occurred Jan. 9 in a rural area of St. Johns County, west of St. Augustine, along County Road 13, after authorities received reports of a large emu roaming free. The bird, owned by local owners, had escaped from its enclosure — not for the first time.
Video from responding deputy Cpl. Keisler shows the six-foot-tall emu initially ignoring attempts to control it before becoming defensive. The bird delivered multiple kicks with its powerful legs and sharp talons before sprinting into nearby wooded terrain, prompting a brief foot pursuit.
Emus, native to Australia, are capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and can deliver kicks strong enough to seriously injure humans. In the footage, the deputy maintains distance before eventually cornering the animal.
Unable to safely restrain the emu by hand, Cpl. Keisler improvised a makeshift lasso using materials available at the scene. Once the bird was secured, he applied standard handcuffs to its legs to prevent further kicking and escape — a moment that has become the most widely shared portion of the clip online.
The emu was returned safely to its owners, and no citations or charges were issued. In a tongue-in-cheek caption accompanying the video, the sheriff’s office noted that “all criminal charges against the emu were dropped.”
According to local reports and social media commentary, the bird has escaped at least four times since October 2025, developing a reputation in the area for repeatedly evading containment despite its owners’ efforts. Previous incidents reportedly involved similar pursuits and recaptures.
While emus are not native to Florida, some residents keep them legally as exotic pets or livestock, though owners are responsible for ensuring proper containment. Law enforcement officials note that large exotic animals can pose safety risks when loose, particularly animals with the speed and strength of an adult emu.
The bodycam footage has since circulated widely across social media platforms and news outlets, adding the latest chapter to Florida’s long history of unconventional wildlife encounters — this time featuring a runaway bird and a very creative arrest.
