FOND DU LAC (NBC 26) — A large African Marabou Stork has been spotted roaming Fond du Lac, sparking a social media buzz and a community effort to locate and retrieve the bird.
Eric Zick, a Fond du Lac resident, saw the bird himself.
"It was just humongous, something I've never seen before," Zick said.
The bird, which stands a few feet tall, has been drawing attention around town.
Jessica Saunders is at the heart of the push to locate and retrieve the stork and says it has been a journey.
"No one can tell where it came from, nobody has reported missing one of these, reached out to many zoos in the area and no one is missing one," Saunders said.
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After contacting the Illinois DNR, Saunders learned that this is not the bird's first stop; it has been traveling across state lines for a while now.
"It first came onto their radar about a year ago in Indiana," Saunders said.
Saunders says that she is worried about the stork.
"It doesn't seem fearful of people at all, and that is a little bit of a concern for its safety, Saunders said. "It doesn't understand traffic laws or walking down roads."
She hopes that the bird will eventually be returned home, wherever that home may be.
While the search for the Marabou Stork continues, confirmed sightings of the stork show it has now reached Sheboygan as of early Thursday afternoon.
If you or someone you know has seen the Marabou Stork or have information regarding its whereabouts reach out to the Wildlife of Wisconsin Facebook Page or call their number: 920-323-5609.
Wildlife of Wisconsin also says that continued public reporting helps track the storks movements. If you believe you have spotted the stork, observe from a distance, note whether the bird appears injured, grounded or only is flying short distances.
