‘The Wild Neighborhood Penguin’ May 12, 2025

“On May 3, 2023, I ventured out like I do every evening to take my dogs for a walk through the neighborhood. We decided to take an alternate path this evening, through a park in our neighborhood.

Dusk was creeping across the park, as shadows grew longer and my eyes started playing tricks on me, or so I thought. Out of the corner of my eye, what was that odd black and white blob next to the tree. As Harley, my anxious boxer pup and I got closer, Harley started to bark and lunged at it. What in the world could it be, it looked like some kind of bird, but it was too difficult to tell without getting closer. I decided that if it was a bird, I didn’t want it to get scared due to Harley’s obnoxious barking, so we continued on our walk. We hurried home, so I could take our other dog, Luna on her walk and we would try to see if the odd creature was still next to the tree in the park. I also made sure to grab my phone. If anything, I could snag a picture.

Sure enough, as Luna and I strolled through the park, there it was. Darkness was setting in and it was getting much more difficult to see. We got a little closer, could that be, no, what? It looked like a little black and white bird the size of a yes, a penguin. No way, I thought to myself. So, I took a picture and sent it quickly to my husband and son at home, hoping they would hurry over to help me investigate.

Instead, they laughed and said I was crazy. But I was determined to help this poor little creature who must have escaped or gotten lost or something and now was in this suburban Midwest neighborhood park. All I could think about was, what if this little penguin or exotic bird gets attacked by a dog or cat or bear? OK – I am not that crazy, but dog and cat for sure. I decided there was only one thing to do, call the Nebraska Humane Society. They would know what to do.

I located the number and quickly called into the hotline, pacing watching this poor defenseless penguin/exotic bird huddle next to a tree. Without any delay the operator picked up and asked how they could help. I told them everything, nearly out of breath and thankful as they didn’t hang up on me and what seemed like a crazy story. They listened and asked questions to try and determine what this bird may be and what the next appropriate steps should be. To my relief, they assured me they would send out an animal control officer to check on the bird, and they would be there shortly. I thanked the operator, provided them with my number and Luna and I finished our walk. About 20-30 minutes later, I received a call from the animal control officer. They were having difficulty locating the bird, and I told them no problem, I would be there in a jiffy to direct them to it. Curiosity was gnawing at me anyway as I wanted to see what kind of bird it was. Mr. Popper’s penguins here in Nebraska?

I rushed over and saw the light gleaming from the animal control officer’s flashlight in the park. I yelled to them hello. They came over, and we chatted about this crazy bird and how could it have ended up here. So many questions. I guided them to the tree, and sure enough there was my little penguin waiting to be saved. The animal control officer was shocked at first. Then, as they got closer and closer with their trap ready to catch our penguin, I heard them say, ‘Wait what the … ‘ I was like oh my gosh what, what. They nonchalantly picked up the bird and walked over. Even in the dark I could see their face and hear in their voice laughter. They stopped in front of me with my poor little penguin … stuffed penguin … They laughed and said, it is a stuffed penguin.

Some kid in the neighborhood must have left the stuffed animal near the tree. We laughed; I apologized for wasting their time. But hoped it might give them a good story to tell, and new stuffed animal for their van. The neighborhood penguin was never to be seen again.”

-Megan

Shoutout to our animal control team for all they do around the area, from dogs and cats to wildlife and … penguins!

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