An outback Queensland pub has banned emus from its premises after a spate of bad behaviour from the feathered patrons.
The Yaraka Hotel, in remote south-west Queensland, has barricaded its entrances to keep the birds out.
In an interview with the ABC, the hotel’s owner, Chris Gimblett, said the locally hatched and raised emus – who have become a tourist highlight in the town – had learned how to climb the pub’s front steps and were now causing havoc in the outback watering hole.
“We didn’t really want them becoming patrons in the hotel,” he told the ABC.
He said the emus were known to target tourists, stealing food, drinks, car keys and generally making a mess.
“Their toileting [inside] is not particularly pleasant,” Mr Gimblett said.
“That’s the biggest problem — because they do toilet quite frequently.”
Mr Gimblett said rope barriers had been erected at the entrances, along with signs asking tourists to help keep the emus out.
“They still hang around each gate, hoping that they’ll be able to slip in when someone opens it up,” he said.
“But so far we are winning the war.”
