Have you heard of Australia’s Emu War? The Great Emu War is exactly what it sounds like: a war against emus. But what even are emus, and why did Australia wage war on them? How long was the Emu War? And what does this mean for the U.S.? Keep reading to find out.
See more: Deny It All You Like, Birds Aren’t Real
The Great Emu War of 1932
The Great Emu War is not a joke; it actually happened. Australia is filled with strange wildlife, and emus are just a part of the mix. But with the Emu War, Australia was up against a particularly unique enemy. Let’s dive into this strange war.
What Are Emus?
To put it simply, emus are really ugly, stupid birds that are native to Australia. Related to the ostrich (another ugly, stupid bird), emus are the second tallest living bird. Like the ostrich, they are flightless and have long legs and long necks. Despite being flightless, emus can move terrifyingly fast – up to 30mph. This makes them a formidable foe on the battlefield.
The Purpose of the Australian Emu War
So, when was the Emu War? The Emu War was only a month long, from November 4, 1932, to December 10, 1932. The Australia Emu War was an attempt to control the emu population that had gotten out of hand.
After WWI, several Australian WWI Veterans were given land to farm in Western Australia. The Australian government encouraged the farmers to plant wheat crops, promising them assistance in the form of subsidies. However, as the Australian government refused to provide the subsidies, Australian farmers were met with an increased amount of wheat products that they refused to deliver due to the lack of subsidies.
Around the same time that this was happening, around 20,000 emus began arriving to the farmlands. Emus traditionally migrate after their breeding season from inland to coastal regions. The farming land and the additional water supply being directed to this area made the farmlands an ideal location for the emus. The migrated emus would feast on the farmers’ crops and would often destroy the farmers’ fences.
The farmers, many of them war Veterans, complained to the government, asking for some sort of solution to their emu problem. The government agreed to send out military personnel to help control the emu problem as long as the farmers provided food and housing for the soldiers and paid for the ammunition.
Emu War Outcome
Two significant attempts were made to murder the emus. Several ambush attempts were made, and a good handful of the birds were shot, but eventually, the emus got smart. An account from the emu war states, “each pack seems to have its own leader now—a big black-plumed bird which stands fully six feet high and keeps watch while his mates carry out their work of destruction and warns them of our approach.”
The Australian government decided that the Emu War wasn’t successful enough, and a lot of negative media surrounded it. By early November, the military left the farmlands.
However, as the Australian summer began to get hotter and drier, emus began flocking to farms by the thousands. The farmers asked for assistance from the military again, and they returned by November 13. This second attempt was more successful than the first. Toward the end of the “war,” around 100 emus were being killed per week.
Emu War Casualties
How many emus died in the Emu War? The Emu War’s casualties aren’t definitive. There are no solid numbers about how many emus died, but it’s estimated that at least 986 were killed and around 2,500 were injured.
And, if you want to know who won the Great Emu War, it was definitely the emus. A lot of great Emu War meme content has come out of this. Thank you, Australia, for the memes!
Invasive Species in the United States
Though emus are not technically an invasive species to Australia, they’re still just as annoying as an invasive species would be. Some of the worst invasive species in America are the spotted lantern fly and the Asian carp. So, why are these invasive species the worst, and will the U.S. follow in Australia’s footsteps and start a war against them? Spotted Lantern Fly and Asian Carp Invasive Species
Spotted lantern flies and Asian carp are both really annoying. The spotted lantern fly, though beautiful, is a threat to crops and trees. Mostly located in Pennsylvania, it secretes a substance called “honeydew.” The “honeydew” it secretes leads to mold and plant damage.
The Asian carp has been making the U.S. its home since the 1970s. Their purpose was to help clean up wastewater treatment plants and aquaculture ponds throughout the U.S. However, the Asian carp are a dominant species. They can grow to be up to 31 pounds and tend to eat all the food around them that other fish need, like snails, plants, etc.
These invasive species are a huge nuisance to the U.S., just like how emus were to Australia, so will the U.S. wage war against them? Probably not, but they are encouraging people to be mindful of their interactions with these species.
The spotted lantern fly doesn’t fly very far, but their eggs are commonly accidentally picked up. People who travel through areas with a high population of spotted lantern flies are asked to check their clothing and belongings to make sure they are egg-free. Fishermen are encouraged to report their sightings of Asian carp; if they catch one, the protocol is to either eat it or use it as bait.
The Great Emu War is a “war” that will go down in history as probably the most ridiculous war ever. Hopefully, the U.S. won’t need to declare war on the spotted lantern fly or the Asian carp, but you never know!
See more: The U.S. Army Is at War With Asian Carp
