HORRY COUNTY, SC (LOOTPRESS) — South Carolina’s animal escape saga continues, as two emus named Thelma and Louise remain on the loose in Horry County. The large, flightless birds escaped three months ago and have yet to be captured, their owner confirmed.
The Horry County Police Department addressed the unusual situation on social media Wednesday, writing, “We are not emu-sed.” In their statement, police reassured the public there is no danger associated with the birds and confirmed they are working with the owner, Sam Morace, to safely capture the wayward emus.
“Living the Wild Life”
Morace revealed the birds broke free while she attempted to move one to a new paddock. “They decided they wanted to hop the fence… so she’s living the wild life, well, both of them are,” Morace said.
The escapees, nicknamed after the iconic movie characters, are feral and untrained, making them difficult to recapture. Morace explained on a community Facebook post that efforts are underway to secure a tranquilizer, but the birds have so far evaded capture.
“They are more scared of you than you are of them,” she said, noting that one of the emus had previously fought off three wild dogs. “If your dogs try and attack her, she will fight back.”
Community Efforts to Help
Residents in Horry County have spotted the emus, with some sharing their encounters online. “I was pretty shocked, and so was the wife,” one commenter wrote. “Like, is that an emu next to the fire station? I turned around to take a picture, and it was gone already!”
Suggestions for using herding dogs were dismissed by Morace, given the birds’ history of defending themselves against predators.
South Carolina’s Escaped Animal Saga
The emus’ escape comes on the heels of another animal breakout in South Carolina. Earlier this week, 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee after a caretaker failed to secure their enclosure. As of Friday, 32 monkeys had been recaptured, with efforts continuing to locate the remaining fugitives.
Emus, native to Australia, are the second-largest living birds, standing over 5 ½ feet tall and weighing up to 130 pounds. While not dangerous to the public, their size and speed make them challenging to handle.
For now, Thelma and Louise continue to roam free, embodying their namesakes’ spirit of adventure and elusiveness. Authorities and their owner remain hopeful for a safe resolution to this unusual situation.
