Three high school students face trespassing and animal cruelty charges after bringing a 6-foot emu from Iowa and locking in Gretna High School.

A janitor found the emu when he entered the school’s commons area earlier this month. Sarpy County Sheriff’s deputies rounded up the bird and took it to a veterinarian to have a cut on its neck stitched. The emu now belongs to a Gretna company that puts on wildlife shows for parties and schools.

Lt. Mark Trapp says one of the students went to Iowa to buy the bird for $30. The three students originally planned to release it onto the school’s football field on Sept. 19. They instead put the bird in the school when they found it unlocked.