Yes, I heard they were brought over by a farmer to keep the birds away or something like that.
I was turning into my work parking lot, which is in a strip of businesses off a busy road with not so much as a tree in sight, and one ran right in front of my car and into the lot!
As many as there are, I haven't seen one in a long time. Just moved back to suburban-rural Illinois from an urban area of Texas.
I think if not for the connection to smuggling there'd be at least more of an interest personally, not for use but for playing around with.