(Well, okay, a "threatened species"...)
For the last few days at work, one of these giant birds, a Sandhill Crane, has decided to become my bestest buddy.
When I first saw the critter, it was wandering around in the parking lot. Since it was a slow day, I went outside in an effort to scare it away (I didn't want it to get hit by a car). Instead, the creature came right up to me. I put out my hand to it, to see its response, and it bit me! No malice, of course (nor any teeth); it merely assumed I had some food in my hand.
Feeling now obligated to feed this massive winged-beast, I ran inside to find a piece of bread. Upon returning outside, I found it had followed me to the front door! (Clearly it has no fear of humans...) And it ate the bread right out of my hand, though occasionally attempting to devour my thumb (by accident, one assumes...).
Anyway, I led it away from the parking lot with a trail of crumbs. I went inside, and thought that was the end of our acquaintance. However, it has returned twice more, and even waits outside the front entrance for me! I fed it again today, some more bread, but when it shit a disturbingly large quantity of fecal matter near the main entrance, I decided to "shoo" it away.
Anyway, I thought I would let ya'll know of this little anecdote, and ask you what I should do next. Should I continue feeding it (the customers and employees love it; they've already named "him" Stretch...)? Or should I scare it away, in order to protect its own safety? Or should I take him home and make it a pet? Or maybe dinner?
(The last two options are not serious ones, to the humor-impaired out there...)
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