Animal control officers in Parma Heights tracked down a striking all-white peafowl behind a home on Beverly Drive after neighbors posted video of the bird wandering through yards. The unusual visitor, technically a peahen, drew a small crowd before Parma Heights staff safely captured and secured the animal.
Caught On Camera In A Backyard Bust
As reported by FOX8, animal control officers spotted the bird behind a house on Beverly Drive on June 23 and moved in after a brief pursuit. FOX8 published a video showing the peahen darting around the yard before finally being corralled and taken into custody by Parma Heights personnel.
Why The Bird Is White But Not Albino
Most all-white peafowl are the result of leucism rather than albinism, meaning a genetic mutation reduces pigment in the feathers while leaving eye color unchanged, according to A-Z Animals. The outlet notes that leucistic birds are uncommon in the wild and more often show up in captive flocks, where breeders sometimes select specifically for white plumage.
City Playbook For Escaped Animals
City rules give Parma Heights animal control officers the authority to seize, impound, and attempt to reunite escaped animals with their owners. The code also directs the department to maintain public notices, including on social media, about animals taken into custody. Those duties and procedures are detailed in the city's council packet and amendments to Chapter 618 of the Parma Heights code, which lay out the ordinance language and officer responsibilities.
Peacocks On The Loose Are Nothing New
Escaped ornamental birds turn up around the region from time to time. For example, WLWT reported that an Ohio trooper helped reunite an escaped pet peacock with its family last year. The Parma Heights capture also appears to have wrapped up cleanly, with no reported injuries to people or the bird, and city procedures are expected to help reunite the peahen with its owner if one comes forward.
