Elusive chickens captured

Feb. 27—During the span of a month, the Pullman Police Department had been receiving calls about two chickens on the loose. And the clever birds repeatedly led officers on a chase around town.

Finally, on Feb. 12, code enforcement officers captured the chickens — whom they had named Bert and Ernie — near the Pullman Village Centre Cinemas on Bishop Boulevard. They delivered the birds to the Whitman County Humane Society.

Bert and Ernie are both juvenile roosters, said shelter manager Ellie Barnes. They had unclipped wings and had just started crowing earlier this month. The birds have been with the humane society since being captured and both are in fine health.

"They're yodeling for us in the mornings now," Barnes said.

Barnes said they are looking for new homes for Bert and Ernie, who are prohibited by code from living inside city limits. The humane society is looking for separate homes for them since roosters will fight one another if there are too many in a tight space.

How the birds ended up on their chase around Pullman is unclear as they could have escaped their home or have been released upon finding out they were male chickens. Barnes said it is hard to determine the sex of a baby chicken, so it is possible they were backyard birds before.

Barnes said the shelter doesn't see many chickens being brought in but has had them in their care before. The shelter often sees animals like mice, ferrets and hamsters in addition to the cats and dogs.

The Whitman County Humane Society is located at 1340 SE Old Moscow Road in Pullman. It is open 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Kali Nelson can be reached at knelson@dnews.com.