Top 10 of 2025: Emu captured, Dr. Rob Conner of All Creatures Veterinary Hospital wrangles emu

KTLO, Classic Hits, and The Boot News is continuing to revisit 2025’s most viewed and talked-about stories, presented in no particular order. Some will highlight uplifting, feel-good moments, while others may reflect more serious or somber events.

After four days on the run a pair of young emus became a local sensation in Mountain Home. With one of the birds safely being held on a local resident’s property the second emu was captured Thursday evening by Dr. Rob Conner with assistance of local law enforcement. Dr Conner spoke with KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News while holding the bird down. Here’s what that sounded like.

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According to the owner the two birds are around 7 months old making them smaller than their full grown counterparts and making it easier for them to slip through fences.
The original escape of the birds early Monday saw the birds slip through 8 strands of barbed wire in an area around Webber Road. Since then they had been spotted along Rodeo Drive and at one point near Hackler Elementary.

The birds have become local celebrities with a local print shop commissioning and selling commemorative t-shirts. Many AI generated photos and videos have been circulating on social media as the whole area has become enthralled in the story. One viewer on Facebook stated, “At this point the emu is just a Mountain Home resident.” Another chimed in with, “Someone give these birds the key to the city and make them town mascots!”

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