Golden pheasant escapes York's Wild Kingdom

YORK — Of all the foreigners who visit York this summer, there's one you can't miss, said Animal Control Officer Tom Porter.

Over the past month, Porter has received periodic reports that a golden pheasant, a colorful escapee of York's Wild Kingdom, has been visiting around town.

"You'll know it right away when you see it," Porter said. The bird boasts a bright yellow head, red throat and a long tail of feathers — not your typical Maine fowl.

According to www.gbwf.org, a Web site about galliformes, or game birds, the golden pheasant has long been a popular bird to keep in captivity for its vibrant colors and its resiliency. It is only found wild in remote parts of China.

Porter said he would try to capture the bird and return it if he thought it were possible. Because of its speed, "you can't get near the thing," he said.

Owners at the Wild Kingdom aren't concerned, added Porter, as they say that the birds usually come back because of their mates.

And Porter isn't too concerned because the bird doesn't pose any threat to the Maine habitat. "It's nothing that's going to endanger native species," he said.

Porter said that he gets reports of a different "fugitive" bird once a summer. About 15 or 20 years ago, he said, two elephants escaped the small zoo at the Wild Kingdom in York Beach.

"But they were a little easier to spot and couldn't run very fast," he said.