NATIONWIDE DUE TO THE WAR IN IRAN. REMEMBER THAT FAMOUS SAUK SPOTTED ACROSS WISCONSIN AND NOW HAS A NEW HOME SAFARI? LAKE GENEVA SAYS IT’S RESCUED THE MARABOU STORK AFTER WEEKS OF SIGHTINGS AROUND THE REGION, INCLUDING IN FOND DU LAC, APPLETON AND SHEBOYGAN. THE BIRD IS NATIVE TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. IT’S STILL UNKNOWN HOW SHE GOT HERE, BUT SHE’S NOW IN QUARANTINE AT T
African stork found wandering Wisconsin gets new home
After weeks of sightings in Fond du Lac, Appleton and Sheboygan, a rare marabou stork has been rescued and given a permanent home at Safari Lake Geneva.
Updated: 12:56 PM CDT May 15, 2026
A marabou stork that had been spotted across Wisconsin for weeks has been rescued and given a new home at Safari Lake Geneva.The conservation park said it rescued the African bird late Wednesday after sightings in several communities around the region, including Fond du Lac, Appleton and Sheboygan. Park founder “Jungle” Jay Christie, described as Wisconsin’s foremost exotic animal expert, said the operation went smoothly. “She surrendered without any resistance,” Christie said. “She immediately settled into our quarantine facilities and is already a staff favorite. She is remarkably tame, by stork standards.”WATCH Beware of drunk deer, police warn, announcing season of inebriationThe marabou stork is native to sub-Saharan Africa, and it is still unknown how the bird arrived in Wisconsin. Maggie Christie, the park’s director of conservation, said the animal faced serious risks in the wild.”It’s unlikely she would have survived another month on the lam, given the number of reported near collisions with vehicular traffic,” Maggie Christie said. “And, of course, she would never survive one of our winters.”Safari Lake Geneva staff say the stork is now in quarantine at the park and is already settling in.Top headlinesMultiple residents hospitalized in Lac La Belle house fire2 men arrested after carjackings outside Milwaukee-area chicken restaurantsFBI offers $200,000 for ex-Air Force intelligence specialist accused of spying for Iran
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. —
A marabou stork that had been spotted across Wisconsin for weeks has been rescued and given a new home at Safari Lake Geneva.
The conservation park said it rescued the African bird late Wednesday after sightings in several communities around the region, including Fond du Lac, Appleton and Sheboygan.
Park founder “Jungle” Jay Christie, described as Wisconsin’s foremost exotic animal expert, said the operation went smoothly. “She surrendered without any resistance,” Christie said. “She immediately settled into our quarantine facilities and is already a staff favorite. She is remarkably tame, by stork standards.”
WATCH Beware of drunk deer, police warn, announcing season of inebriation
The marabou stork is native to sub-Saharan Africa, and it is still unknown how the bird arrived in Wisconsin.
Maggie Christie, the park’s director of conservation, said the animal faced serious risks in the wild.
“It’s unlikely she would have survived another month on the lam, given the number of reported near collisions with vehicular traffic,” Maggie Christie said. “And, of course, she would never survive one of our winters.”
Safari Lake Geneva staff say the stork is now in quarantine at the park and is already settling in.
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