No, That Wasn't Your Neighbor's Dog

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Oct 21, 2004 5:06PM

Police in the south suburbs are on the lookout for a 7-foot-tall ostrich that's been on the loose in Frankfort for the last few days.

Frankfort police said they're still trying to apprehend the suspec.. uh.. ostrich.. which was reported missing by its owner on Friday. But catching an ostrich is no easy task. Besides being tall, the bird weighs over 200 pounds and can run up to 40 miles per hour. Also, they have thick feathers that make it difficult to shoot them with a tranquilizer dart.

The bird has been seen ducking in and out of cornfields and freaking people out by running through their backyards.

Chicagoist is wondering who the ostrich's owner is? Some eccentric pet owner? A farmer raising them for the ostrich dining trend? We've heard that in Chicago Kevin Restaurant, Café Absinthe, Rosal's Cucina, and Grizzly's Lodge all serve ostrich entrees. This site says that ostrich tastes like beef but is lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than beef, pork or even skinless turkey and chicken or turkey. Has anyone ever tried it?