Carlitta Burrell, left, gets help from Pima County Sheriff Deputies as they load an escaped emu into her jeep near South Cardinal and West Irvington Road. The animals belong to Burrell's uncle. The emu was one of several that escaped from a nearby home. All were rescued and returned to the owner. The photo was taken on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, in Tucson Ariz. A.E. Araiza/ Arizona Daily Star

Pima County Sheriff's spent several hours trying to capture four emus that got loose Thursday morning in a neighborhood on the southwest side, authorities said.

The four large birds were contained in the area of West Drexel Blvd. and South Cardinal Ave., said department spokesman, Deputy Tracy Suitt.

Two have been returned to their owner and are back in their pen, while the other two are en route in a horse-trailer.

Emus are the second largest birds in the world, while ostriches are the first.


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Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. On Twitter: @caitlincschmidt