East African crowned crane with its golden feathered crown fled Cougar Mountain Zoo, turning Issaquah’s usual calm into a regal game of hide-and-seek. Sightings near Northwest Newport Way and Lake Sammamish State Park have zookeepers and neighbors on alert. “Don’t approach—just email,” pleads the zoo.

After vanishing from Cougar Mountain, the juvenile crane was last clocked at Lake Sammamish State Park, far from its zoo perch. Local birdwatchers and families are swapping tips and scanning treetops for this rare escapee, whose golden plumage makes it a celebrity in local search trends. “She’s fast!” say staffers, as the hunt continues.

The East African crowned crane’s golden head feathers make it visible from over 100 feet away, even among thick Pacific Northwest foliage.