The Giant Bird That Won't Leave This Man Alone

Every morning before 6 a.m., a retired man named Mal Richards walks down his driveway to get the newspaper. But a large emu named Eric is always waiting for him. The bird has been bothering Mr. Richards for nine months. Sometimes he feels too scared to even go outside into his own garden.

Eric honks loudly all day and follows Mr. Richards wherever he goes on his property. Mr. Richards has locked his fence to try to keep the bird out, but Eric always finds a way back in. Emus are known to kick very hard, which worries Mr. Richards. 'I know they kick badly and I've got to watch out. I'm a pensioner, right?' he said. He added that Eric seems friendly, but he still doesn't trust the bird.

Mr. Richards has asked several government offices for help. He contacted the Townsville City Council and two state government departments. But he says they all pass the problem to someone else. A government spokesperson said rangers had watched the emu and found no dangerous behavior. Residents were told to give the bird space and not to feed it.

Not everyone thinks Eric is a problem. The local community Facebook page is full of friendly posts about the emu. 'Everyone that sees [it] instantly falls in love with [it],' one local wrote. Drivers near the road have been warned to slow down so they don't hurt the bird. Many locals even call Eric the community's mascot.

Wildlife educator Jackie Hasling says Eric is well known in the area. She believes Eric was raised as a pet, which explains why the emu is so comfortable around people. 'She's certainly a little legend around Bluewater,' Ms. Hasling said. Interestingly, even though the emu is called 'Eric,' the bird is actually female.

Ms. Hasling gave advice for people who feel threatened by an emu. She said to back away slowly and give the bird as much room as possible. Holding up a rake or stick can make you look taller and may keep the emu away. You can also try putting a tree or another large object between yourself and the bird. As for the emu poo on Mr. Richards' driveway, Ms. Hasling admitted it was 'definitely frustrating.'

The local council said keeping an emu is allowed on large blocks of land, as long as the owner has a proper enclosure. This means Eric likely belongs to someone nearby, but that person has not come forward. With no one taking action, Mr. Richards has no choice but to share his yard with the bird. He is still waiting for someone to move Eric along, but so far, the emu isn't going anywhere.