'It's unfortunate': Peacock euthanized in Jasper National Park
A peacock spotted in the area of the Jasper National Park townsite has been euthanized.
Residents and Parks Canada staff first saw the domestic peafowl last Saturday.
After days of trying to capture the peacock, Parks Canada made the "difficult decision" to euthanize it on Thursday.
David Argument, resource conservation manager at Jasper National Park, explained to CTV News Edmonton the priority is the park's integrity.
"It could be carrying parasites or diseases that we're not familiar with," he said.
The park's wildlife spent a "considerable amount of time" trying to trap the bird to no avail.
"Unfortunately the peacock just proved to be largely uninterested in what we had on offer in terms of food to bait it into these traps," Argument said. "It seemed to be partial to popcorn.
"He would eat a few pieces and then wander off because he had an abundance of naturally occurred food here, so it wasn't food stressed, which is often what can drive an animal into a trap situation."
Eventually, the park used a shotgun to euthanize the peacock "far enough" outside of town.
"It was a quick and humane way to dispatch the bird," Argument said.
"It's unfortunate the incident had to end this way."
He's not sure how the peacock got to Jasper but expects it was an accidental or intentional release by someone traveling through the park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.