Tuesday, April 27, 2010

When Ostriches Attack

Ostriches like to eat fingers. Seriously! Just ask my six year old.



On Saturday the family headed to Zion National Park. Our kids begged to stop and look at an ostrich farm along the way. We agreed, though we regretted that decision after the trauma that ensued.

We bought a little bag of food that spectators can throw through the fence for the ostriches to eat. The kids were ecstatic to have this opportunity. We quickly realized the folly of our purchase.

The children were as happy as could be, ostrich food was flying everywhere, smiles were pasted on everyone's faces, and life was magical. But then......

A loud shriek shattered the moment. Danica wailed in pain. She ran toward the car. Tears were streaming. The screaming continued. And continued. And.....continued.

Apparently, when little children nonchalantly grab the fence, their fingers look like delicious little Vienna Sausages. Suddenly ostriches aren't so interested in ostrich food. Human flesh seems much more appetizing.

Fortunately, no blood was spilled. No fingernails were lost. And we realized that it is incredibly difficult to appear sympathetic when you are laughing. The ostrich owner witnessed the brutality and brought Danica an ostrich feather. Miraculously this healed all pain she had been feeling prior.



For all of you who are brave enough to see how much ostriches love to eat humans, check out this highly funny video:

3 comments:

Tonya Mae Wilson said...

He gave her an ostrich feather as a sympathy gift for getting bit by an ostrich?? Let's think about that. Isn't that like installing a fireplace for a burn victim or giving a package of cigarettes to a person diagnosed with emphysema? -Perhaps it's not THAT severe. But seriously. Maybe it's more like giving a person a bouquet of dirty, uprooted weeds and pollen-rich flowers that has allergies.

Anonymous said...

Ostriches don't have teeth. So I'm not quite sure your child got bit like a vienna sausage. Besides, an ostrich wouldn't even eat a vienna sausage. They prefer small plants, bushes, tiny insects and on occassion the little lizard.

Anonymous said...

Obviously they do...its in the picture above.