EPPING, N.H. — A New Hampshire police station sheltered, then released a confused homing pigeon that went the wrong way in a race. But the bird didn’t go far after cloudy, rainy weather affected its ability to navigate.

For now, the pigeon is hanging out at the Epping Police Department, waiting for sunny weather. He rested in a box and ate popcorn Wednesday night.

The 4-month-old pigeon showed up 105 miles off course Monday, after getting lost in a race from Charleston, New York, to its home in New Braintree, Massachusetts. The race started on Saturday.

Police contacted the bird’s owner and kept it safe before releasing it Tuesday. But the pigeon flew only a few miles. The bird, which had a tag on its foot that said, “I left the Epping Police Department at 8:40 a.m. on 9/30/14,” was returned to police.


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