Ostriches on the loose cause Sea-Tac spectacle

A couple of wayward ostriches — which had been chased from their home by a band of marauding dogs — caused a spectacle Sunday as they ran back and forth on a busy SeaTac road before being corralled by police and animal control officers.

According to a spokesman with the King County Sheriff's Office, two ostriches were reported to be running up the middle of the road near the intersection of South 168th Street and 37th Avenue South in the city of SeaTac around 4 p.m.

"They were reported running down the middle of the road heading north," said King County Deputy Bob Conner. "Then they were running south, then apparently they were walking because they became exhausted."

Al Dams, with King County animal control, said three of the flightless birds had been on their owner's fenced property when marauding dogs broke through the fence and chased the creatures. Two of them managed to escape, while one ostrich died in the attempt.

Police, animal control officers birds' owner worked together for about two hours to corral the creatures who captured without further incident, police said.

Animal control officers said they are still looking for the marauding dogs.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com