Emus are protected in New South Wales by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act). It is illegal to take emus or emu eggs from the wild.
Emus are a protected species and can be culled only on private property and under license.”
The population of emu in Australia is currently stable and they are not endangered, yet declining in New South Wales coastal areas. At various times in history emu have been seen by farmers as pests, most notably during what came to be called The Great Emu Wars, which the emu actually won, just by being emu!
Emus are known for warding off unwanted predators. There have been cases of emus stomping bobcats, opossums, snakes, and neighborhood cats to the ground.
Though emus are not technically an invasive species to Australia, they're still just as annoying as an invasive species would be.
The soldier-settlers found that rifles were far more effective deterrents, and 284,704 birds were killed in Western Australia between 1945 and 1960. Despite those casualties, it's safe to say that the Aussies lost the Great Emu War.
The Emu War, also known as the Great Emu War, was a nuisance wildlife management military operation undertaken in Australia over the later part of 1932 to address public concern over the number of emus said to be destroying crops in the Campion district within the Wheatbelt of Western Australia.
Worse still, their tough feathers and blind panic made them virtually immune to bullets – in fact, it took, on average, more than 10 bullets for each kill. “If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds it would face any army in the world…
There are many scents snakes don't like, including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents to deter snakes from coming close to your property. This works as snakes also rely on smell to move around.
The colouration helps to camouflage them from predators. Wild Emus can live for 5 to 10 years.
It is surmised that the bird sleeps only lightly on the tarsus, providing every opportunity of reaction in an emergency, as once the deep sleep attitude is reached the Emu seems insensible to the reception of noise or visual stimuli.
Adult emus are relatively free of predation, dingoes or wedge-tailed eagles are their only natural predators. Emus have also been hunted by humans for generations.
Omnivore. Flowers, fruits, seeds, shoots, large insects (caterpillars are a favorite), lizards, and small rodents.
Emu was an extremely valuable source of food for aboriginal people and it required a huge amount of skill to hunt them........... have you seen an Emu run?!
Emus are only found in Australia. They're highly nomadic and their range covers most of the mainland. Emus were once found in Tasmania, but were exterminated by early Europeans. The two dwarf species that inhabited Kangaroo Island and King Island are now also extinct.
Bush tucker expert Paula Nihot said emu eggs were traditionally eaten by Aboriginal people as a seasonal treat. Like hens' eggs, they contain all eight of the essential amino acids needed in human nutrition.
Other Natural Repellents
Mothballs — place them around the perimeter, and their pungent smell will repel snakes. Vinegar — mix it with water and spray often. Caffeine — sprinkle coffee grounds or instant coffee granules. Spices — chili powder and cayenne pepper work the best.
Snakes don't like to get in the way of dogs, the reason being that dogs are louder, bigger, and more annoying than a good snack. If your dog is present in an area, the chances are high that snakes will stay away.
Cannabis oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil are all effective at repelling snakes. Simply dilute the oil in water and spray it around the perimeter of your property or in any areas where snakes tend to congregate.
Emu and ostrich are reared commercially in many parts of the world for their meat, oil, skin and feathers, which are of high economic value.
The emu has the reputation of being one of the least intelligent birds among a few emu experts, including a Canadian scientist and a former emu breeder. They aren't as bright as crows but are more so than turkeys, and yet they can be easily fooled.
Don't get too close, though, as they are known to chase after visitors…and they can kick down a metal fence with a single blow of their clawed feet.
The pair mate every day or so, with the female laying an egg every two or three days, until a clutch is formed. Most clutches have about 8 to10 eggs but can go as high as 20.
For about 80 million years, emus have existed on the plains of Australia. The emu exists mostly in the coastal regions to the snowfields of Australia, but it barely exists in rainforests or very dry areas. It is now extinct in Tasmania.
Like ostriches, emus cannot fly. Their tiny wings are only eight inches (20 cm) long and they lack flight feathers the breastbone, or keel, and the muscles needed for flight. However they have very strong legs for running and can reach speeds of 30-35 mph for short distances.