British Columbia

Cock-a-doodle-adopt me! Roosters seen strutting around Prince George, B.C., neighbourhood now in SPCA care

A pair of stray roosters will soon be up for adoption after they were found strutting their stuff near downtown Prince George, B.C. The birds were reported to the city's animal control team on Dec. 17 after being spotted in the Millar Addition neighbourhood. 

Birds, nicknamed Foghorn and Cluck Norris, taken into SPCA care after being seen wandering urban area

Bylaw officers catch stray roosters in Prince George

12 months ago
Duration 1:37
Bylaw officers were called in to capture a pair of stray roosters on the loose near downtown Prince George, B.C. The fowl, nicknamed 'Foghorn' and 'Cluck Norris', will soon be up for adoption at the local SPCA.

A pair of stray roosters will soon be up for adoption after they were found strutting their stuff near downtown Prince George, B.C.

The birds were reported to the city's animal control team on Dec. 17 after being spotted on Patricia Boulevard in the Millar Addition neighbourhood. 

The pair were apprehended and brought into the care of the B.C. SPCA and, unless an owner comes forward to claim them, will soon be put up for adoption, according to North Cariboo SPCA manager Kristen Sumner.

"It's definitely the strangest animal we've had come in through animal control," Sumner said of the fowl pair, who have been given the nicknames of Foghorn and Cluck Norris.

Two roosters with captions reading 'Foghorn' and 'Cluck Norris.'
Although they were found together, the roosters don't like each other and are being housed separately to avoid fighting, the B.C. SPCA says. (North Cariboo SPCA)

Though there is plenty of farmland around Prince George, the roosters were in an urban part of the city where livestock is not a common sight. As it stands, chickens are largely not allowed in the community, so it's unclear where they came from.

In a video taken by a CBC News reporter, blyaw officers can be seen using nets and catchpoles to apprehend the birds as they walk through snow.

Trying to accommodate the birds has been a learning experience for Sumner and her team.

"We assumed because they were at large together, gallivanting around the town, that they would have come from the same property," she said. "But they're not best friends, believe it or not."

A woman holds a rooster.
A Prince George bylaw officer holds one of the roosters after the birds were apprehended. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC)

Because of their apparent animosity for each other, the roosters are housed separately in the SPCA facility, which is largely oriented toward cats and dogs. Their morning crows have been causing some confusion for visitors, and the volunteers who aren't familiar with handling the large birds have had some tense moments.

"Some of the staff are absolutely terrified of them," Sumner said. "I've heard a couple girls scream because [the roosters] move toward them a little too quickly."

But both birds seem to be in good health, Sumner said, and — unless an owner comes forward — should be up for adoption on the SPCA website within the next few days.

"Hopefully we can find them a forever home for the holidays," Sumner said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Kurjata

Journalist, Northern British Columbia

Andrew Kurjata is born and based in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, in Lheidli T'enneh territory. He has covered the people and politics of northern B.C. for CBC since 2009. You can email him at [email protected] or text 250.552.2058.

With files from Betsy Trumpener