justira ([personal profile] justira) wrote2006-11-14 02:07 pm

Reconsider your emu containment system.

It seems there is an emu problem in my area. Apparently, emus really like to wander around here.

Note that I don't live in Australia. I live in the D.C. metropolitan area. Where in recent months there has been an emu problem.

In the past four months, there have been three emu outbreaks. Three birds have escaped from local zoos and gone wandering around the city.

I heard about the first two on the radio on my way to work late in the summer. Right after relating something Bush said the day before and giving the morning traffic report, there was announcement that two emus had gotten loose and were wandering around the city. If you see them, please call this number.

The first one was caught within a few hours of its escape, but the second one wandered around the city for most of the day before they finally got it. Consider that those things can run about 30 mph for short bursts.

So, that added some excitement to my day as I was on the lookout for EMUS.

The third emu outbreak occured last Sunday. I'd just gotten in the car to drive home when the radio reported that some OTHER emu had gotten loose and broken into some guy's house. Apparently it puttered around the kitchen and lounged around the living room for a few hours until they came to pick it up.

Imagine coming home to find a six and a half foot bird on your living room couch.

I mean, okay, it's pretty common for, say, deer to break into houses around here. But you know, deer LIVE HERE. They're all over the damn place. If this were, say, AUSTRALIA then possibly a rash of emu sightings in the city would make sense.

But no, you see, this is the American Northeast. And yet our citizens are not safe from emu breakins.

I'm starting to think that maybe the zoos around here need to reconsider their emu containment system.

No, I'm not inordinately amused that I now have an "emu" AND a "skunk" tag.

[identity profile] justira.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
See my response to [livejournal.com profile] auronlu about birds.

But I don't really blame your family. The buggers are (http://naturesworks.infopace.net/images/529_baby_birds.jpg) distressingly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Baby_Emu.jpg) cute (http://www.iowaemuoil.com/See%20baby.JPG).

My personal adventure in attempting exotic pet ownership is trying to get a fennec fox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_fox). I adore them. Unfortunately, circumstances never coincided -- before I could find a breeder I had a place where I'd be allowed to keep one and could house it properly, but once I found a breeder I'd moved to an apartment. No fennec for me D=

[identity profile] nanthimus.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, I know. Birds are probably one of the more evil species of the animal kingdom. >D My uncle had geese and swans at one point and I recall a turkey attacking my nephew several times. We also had ducks and chickens which were usually very nice, but the chickens would enjoy the occasional peck at our shins.

My mother use to have a African Gray and wow. Those bird are so intimidating. SRLY, they're really beautiful but they always seem to have this gleam in their eyes like "I would very much enjoy ripping your fingers off so would you be so kind as to come over here?"

My male cockatiel, Kyo, has these weird moodswings. Sometimes he's utterly happy about seeing me and will chirrup and cheep and sing to me and then. BOOM. He'll sink his beak into my finger. PAIN OMG. He's evil incarnate and I love it. XD

Oh yes, I've got a lot of experience with birds. And you're right; birds are special.

I would actually like a common bearded dragon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_dragon) which is odd. While I'm not afraid of, or hate, reptilian creatures, I've never felt the need to keep them. For some reason though, beardies have grown on me.

WHY DID YOU SHOW ME THAT FOX. Oh MAN. That's a gorgeous little animal.

[identity profile] justira.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I know EXACTLY what you mean about the killer gleam in a parrot's eye. I seriously fear parrots. And yet, I want a blue and gold macaw. Obviously consistency is a strong point with me.

And hey, the bearded dragon looks pretty neat! I'm not into owning reptiles, mostly because they don't have much personality or capacity for affection. Which is basically what I want from animals -- reassurance of my own self-worth XD

But yeah, I tend to go for animals whose intelligence I can respect and who can love me back. However, I'll admit that I'm weak to snakes. They're fascinating. I really like holding big snakes, because it's a really incredible feeling, holding a powerful animal like that and knowing that it's all muscle and feeling it move.

I wouldn't be able to handle owning one, though. I'd probably have to feed it mice, and I just can't deal with that.

BUT YES OMG FENNEC FOX. They're SO ADORABLE. I want one MADLY. They're like the perfect mixture of cat-like tendencies and canine enthusiasm and I WANT ONE.

PREPARE TO BE PICSPAMMED:

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

[identity profile] nanthimus.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
....

OOOH MY GOD. OH GOD NO. THAT'S TOO MUCH. TOO. MUfde fdsfhsdjkfhds.

I do understand what you mean. Like I said, in general, I'm not a reptilian lover by any means. XD I like animals that like to cuddle. For fuzzy animals, I have always had my eye on sugar gliders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_glider). Alas, they are illegal in Georgia (which actually means squat, since so are hedgehogs and people sell those around here).

THE EARS ON THAT FOX. GOD.

[identity profile] justira.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Sugar gliders! I actually wanted a pair of those, and even found a breeder close to me. However, I fell in love with my current set of three cats at that point and got them instead. If I'd gotten the gliders first and THEN kittens I could have acclimated them to each other and made the whole "predator and prey in the same house" dynamic a little less retarded, but alas, my cats are grown now and it's too late to acclimate them. Also at that point I didn't live in an apartment. Silly apartment managers not wanting animals from the Sahara and the Outback in their apartment complexes >.>

Well, actually, what I WANTED was a flying squirrel, but those were illegal where I lived. Sugar gliders weren't, though, and I discovered them when I was looking around for flying squirrel information.

Also, FENNEC.

I NEED ONE, OKAY??? >.>

Seriously, aren't they one of the cutest animals ever or what? And aren't those ears ridiculous? ♥ ♥ ♥

[identity profile] ironpuncher2.livejournal.com 2006-11-14 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
UWAU OH MY FREAKING GOARD *_____________*

[identity profile] justira.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I forgot to mention. TMNT movie icon for the win!

[identity profile] nanthimus.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
OH YES. Major fan of TMNT in ALL mediums, right here!