# Man Wards off Emus with Pool Noodles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236 "2022-06-15T12:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/1 "2022-06-15T12:50:24Z")
I so very much want to see this turned into one of those “LIMU Emus” commercials > [@](#): > > # Man’s emu deterrent method has internet weighing in > > [ > New Day > ](https://www.cnn.com/shows/new-day) > > A Texas man’s TikTok videos of his method for keeping his pet emu at bay while he mows the lawn delights the internet. CNN’s Jeanne Moos [https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/06/14/emu-pool-noodle-deterrent-moos-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/atv-trending-videos/](https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/06/14/emu-pool-noodle-deterrent-moos-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/atv-trending-videos/) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/2 "2022-06-15T14:02:59Z")
It’s “_eeem-you_” dammit, not “eeemooo”. And I want the guy to get a cassowary, and see how he goes then. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/3 "2022-06-15T14:06:22Z")
These things always escalate to super soakers ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/4 "2022-06-15T14:17:00Z")
I laughed myself silly! The cat on my lap got pissed at the bumpy ride! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/5 "2022-06-15T14:25:51Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > It’s “_eeem-you_” dammit, not “eeemooo”. > > And I want the guy to get a cassowary, and see how he goes then. That’s what I always thought. Have I been pronouncing wrong all these years? If not, how did they create a multi kajillion dollar marketing campaign based on a mispronunciation? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/6 "2022-06-15T14:30:23Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > It’s “_eeem-you_” dammit, not “eeemooo”. Americans (at least all the ones I’ve known) pronounce it the latter way. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/7 "2022-06-15T14:34:36Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > It’s “_eeem-you_” dammit, not “eeemooo”. > > And I want the guy to get a cassowary, and see how he goes then. I always thought it was pronounced: ee-mew, and that’s how I always pronounce it. That’s how I heard it pronounced when I was stationed in Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/8 "2022-06-15T16:38:32Z")
A lot of things are pronounced funny in Australia… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/9 "2022-06-15T23:12:43Z")
Very emusing. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/10 "2022-06-16T06:56:26Z")
I’m not overly precious about the subject but do feel that the way the people of a country pronounce the names of their own native animals should be somewhat definitive. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/11 "2022-06-16T07:03:51Z")
I’ve always thought the emu and the cassowary were the closest animals we have today to their dinosaur ancestors. These large flightless birds that can injure or kill would seem like they would be at home in the Jurassic. . ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/12 "2022-06-16T07:21:31Z")
Emus are pretty harmless really. The emu in the OP is no doubt bothered by the obnoxiously loud mower, and you will notice it has young of which it is no doubt being protective, plus you will notice they never mention the emu attacking them _except_ when mowing. Cassowary attacks are more of a concern. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/13 "2022-06-16T07:58:32Z")
If only Australia had had these effective weapons during the Great Emu War: > **[Emu War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 running amok and destroying crops in the Campion district within the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. The unsuccessful attempts to curb the population of emus, a large flightless bird indigenous to Australia, employed Royal Australian Artillery soldiers armed with Lewis guns—leading t... [![](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/252/956/03d.jpg) ](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/252/956/03d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/14 "2022-06-16T08:22:09Z")
I recently discovered that ostriches - which are a dangerous animal, particularly when in mating season - have claws on their wings. I got to see them close up. Very dinosaur like! For the record, other birds have claws on their wings, including the OP’s emus, and ducks, geese and kiwis, all vestigial, and not used. The [young hoatzil](https://www.insidescience.org/news/baby-birds-use-wing-claws-climb-through-amazon) also have claws, and use them to climb - a remarkably “prehistoric” trait, although probably a vestigial claw that re-emerged as a usable feature. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/15 "2022-06-16T10:29:40Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > And I want the guy to get a cassowary, and see how he goes then. In the spirit of mundane pointlessness, I’m suddenly reminded of my mother singing (to the tune of 'We Shall Gather At the River") _If I were a cassowary On the shores of Timbuktu, I would eat a missionary, Body, bones and Bible too. Yes, I would eat a missionary, A mish- a mish- a missionary, Yes, I would eat a missionary, Body, bones and Bible too!_ (She got it from her mother and aunts - I can’t imagine what their Baptist sunday school was like) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/16 "2022-06-16T11:57:01Z")
In his [“Book of Deadly Animals”](https://www.amazon.com/Book-Deadly-Animals-Gordon-Grice/dp/0143120743), Gordon Grice has a chapter on the dangers posed by large flightless birds, including emus, cassowaries and ostriches. One of his acquaintances raised them on a farm, using a pool cue to discourage attacks. At one point the farmer says, ominously, “We used to have a cat.” Long ago Mrs. J. and I were driving through central Iowa when she called out, “Look! Buffalo! And ostriches!!” I thought she was hallucinating, but sure enough, some farmer had those creatures in his field. We turned around and stopped by the fence. The ostriches came up (curiosity? Desire for ostrich treats?) and I briefly patted one on the head before it recoiled. I’d know better now. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/17 "2022-06-16T12:08:12Z")
I was building a fence once in a field which emus lived in (along with other herbivores but only the emus were a problem). They are attracted to the color red and would tiptoe up behind me to try to grab my red handled fencing pliers. I would suddenly discover an emu snaking its weird head around, inches behind me, I’d leap up and chase them (I think there were three of them) over the hill, come back and start working again … and they would start tiptoeing back again. It was tedious. They are really dimwitted. I remember once trying to get one to go through a gate, which he just could not find although he ran back and forth along the fence for a long time, often passing it. Chickens are a lot smarter than emus, and that is saying something. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/18 "2022-06-16T14:17:35Z")
@Ulfreida Emus have bigger and better wings for Buffalo wings than chickens do. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/19 "2022-06-16T15:06:25Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > > [@Princhester](#): > > > > It’s “_eeem-you_” dammit, not “eeemooo”. > > Americans (at least all the ones I’ve known) pronounce it the latter way. I hear both pronunciations in the video linked in the OP. So how do you pronounce “puma”? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236/20 "2022-06-16T15:55:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > So how do you pronounce “puma”? coo-ger 😝 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-wards-off-emus-with-pool-noodles/966236.md?page=2)