Town under siege from emus searching for food as drought continues

Emus are running amok in Longreach, western Queensland, Australia, as drought forces them into town to look for food. The emus have been walking residential streets in Longreach for some months but they are now in the main street, halting traffic and feeding in garden beds. Longreach Mayor Joe Owens says they seem at home. "They are taking absolutely no notice of the people, or the cars or dogs," he said. When they are crossing the street, people have to stop for them. "They just toddle across as they please."

Councillor Owens says locals are giving way to the emus. "Out in the paddocks, there is not a lot of food for them, because emus really are seed eaters," he said. "A bit of green grass - they will eat that for sure - but they haven't got that out in the scrub - it's just nature's way of survival. They have found nice feed and they are just wandering around picking the best they can from, what I can gather, all over town. We just have to work around them."

Grazier and naturalist Angus Emmott says he has never seen them in the center of town and it is quite a novelty. "I think the locals are quite enjoying the scene of having them outside their shop fronts - that is something I haven't observed before," he said. "The roos and the emus are just desperately seeking something to eat and a bit of greenery, so they are marching in and getting it wherever they can. It is doing away with their natural cautiousness of man, so they are marching right up into the main street." Police are asking drivers to take care and give the emus the right of way.

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Cars are slowing to allow the emus to pass, but Police Sergeant Wayne Lynn said there have been some casualties in other streets around the town. "We do know stories of a few emus that have been hit by cars," he said. "People have come in and told us and we get onto the council. They get a bit scattery when they hear a car coming and they just take off - they've been spooked. People just have to be mindful when they see them and be careful and give them right of way - it doesn't hurt to slow down and let them cross, because they are under a lot of pressure at the moment looking for food and water for their families."