‘Feral’ Emus Named Thelma and Louise Are on the Loose in South Carolina: 'Not Emu-sed'

Mar. 15, 2025

Emus (stock image).Photo:Getty

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest living bird by height, after its relative ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird. They are soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs. They forage for a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to go for weeks without eating. The bird is an important cultural icon of Australia, appearing on the coat of arms and various coins. It also features prominently in Indigenous Australian mythology.

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A pair of emus are on the run!

According to anofficial statementfrom the Horry County Police Department in South Carolina posted on Facebook on Nov. 13, two emus escaped from their owner’s property and are “on the loose” in the Green Sea area.

“We are not emu-sed,” the officials quipped.

“The department is aware of the reported emus, and we have made contact with the owner. We are working to aid the owner in the effort to locate and capture the animals,” the statement continued.

The local police department said the birds do not pose a risk to the community.

The emus' owner, Sam Morace, addressed the recent emu sightings in a Nov. 12Facebookpost on a local group page, confirming there are two emus and noting that they “got loose 3 months ago.”

“They are feral and not trained like the ones we have at the house,” she added. “Local law enforcement has already been at my house, [and] we are trying to get a tranquilizer approved so we can bring them home.”

Emus (stock image).Getty

Australian Wildlife

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Detailing the emus' escape, she said, “They decided they wanted to hop the fence when we were trying to grab one of them to move her to another paddock and, well, she didn’t like that.”

Morace added: “So she [is] living the wild life, well both of them are.”

According to theSmithsonian’s National Zoo, emus are flightless birds with small wings. They vary in color but tend to be dark at the end of their molting season. The animals are native to Australia and grow to be 5 feet 7 inches tall and weigh more than 100 lbs. on average.

Emus have a life expectancy of five to 10 years, but can live longer in captivity.

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This isn’t the first newsworthy animal escape in South Carolina this month. On Nov. 6, local authorities confirmed in an officialFacebookstatement that 40 primates had broken free from the Alpha Genesis research facility in Beaufort County.

“Traps have been set up around the area, and the Yemassee Police Department is currently on-site utilizing thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to locate the animals,” police said at the time.

Residents in the area were “strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” per the statement.

source: people.com

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