Swan Wanders onto Busy Florida Highway, Halting Traffic and Causing Near-'Catastrophic' Police Chase

Talk about a wild swan chase!

A Florida swan found itself in harm’s way on the morning of Friday, March 7, after it waddled onto a busy highway, according to the Orlando Police Department, who documented the unusual predicament in a Facebook post.

After receiving several calls about the swan, which disrupted traffic on Florida State Road 408, Orlando police officers quickly responded to the scene and attempted to get the bird — and the vehicles on the road — out of danger.

Highway camera footage shared by local Orlando outlet WESH shows police, along with several community service officers, chasing the large, white bird through several traffic lanes and making several unsuccessful attempts to capture it.

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Surrounding traffic, meanwhile, remained at a near-standstill, as all eastbound lanes were closed during the chase, WESH reported.

Eventually, the swan was backed up against a median barrier as at least seven people stood nearby, monitoring the situation, before it was swaddled up into a large blanket.

Once the bird was safely secured, authorities transported it to the Eola House, a city-owned property on Orlando’s Lake Eola, police said.

Staff at the property, however, quickly determined that the runaway swan was not one of theirs, Orlando police said, writing, “Although this swan doesn’t appear to call Lake Eola home, we’re happy it’s now out of harm’s way.”

The bird has since been returned to its original habitat, a spokesperson for the City of Orlando told PEOPLE in a statement on Tuesday, March 11. “It’s no longer in the city’s care,” the spokesperson added.

A volunteer who works with swans in the area found its origin, and the city subsequently returned it, Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan later told ABC 17.

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Explaining how the swan ended up in the middle of traffic, Sheehan told the outlet that “there are some lakes in that area, and there is a swan population where people are keeping them.”

“It’s very easy, for one of these animals to fly onto major highways and things like that,” she explained, pointing out that it’s currently mating season for the birds.

“These animals are put in danger if you don’t clip their wings,” Sheehan told ABC 17. “You have to take care of them and do the proper swan care, or it can be catastrophic to the swan and motorists.”

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Along with the swan, everyone else involved in the unique traffic incident also made it home safe — no injuries or crashes were reported due to the disruption, WESH reported.

“Let this serve as another reminder to slow down and stay focused while driving—you never know what you’ll encounter on the road,” the department concluded its Facebook post. “Have a swan-derful weekend, Orlando!”

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