The unexpected neighbourhood pest terrorising this pensioner

Every morning before 6am when pensioner Mal Richards walks down his driveway to collect the day's newspaper, his nemesis is waiting.

It's not a typical villain, but a beady-eyed, long-necked emu known by residents in this north Queensland community as Eric.

Mr Richards said the female emu had been pestering him for the past nine months, leaving him trapped inside his home on Townsville's outskirts, afraid to venture into his garden.

"It stands around honking all day," Mr Richards said.

"I've got to do my daily chores and every time I turn around, he's under my feet."

The retiree said despite securing the property and locking his fence, Eric always finds a way through.

"I know they kick badly and I've got to watch out. I'm a pensioner, right?" Mr Richards said.

"It seems friendly, but I don't trust them."

Mr Richards said he reported Eric to the Townsville City Council and the state government's Department of Primary Industries as well as the environment department but "they all pass the buck".

A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said rangers had been monitoring an emu in Bluewater that "has not been seen to exhibit any concerning behaviour".

"Residents are asked to give the emu plenty of space and not to feed it or provide it access to food," the spokesperson said.

Mr Richards is frustrated authorities have been unable to help move Eric on, and he's not happy that Eric keeps pooing on his driveway.

'Little legend'

The Bluewater community Facebook page is filled with posts of Eric sightings and several warnings for drivers to slow down while it is near the roadside.

"Everyone that sees [it] instantly falls in love with [it] <3," one local wrote.

"That's just Eric the Emu our mascot."

Another resident wrote that she saw schoolchildren at the bus stop forced to climb a nearby fence to escape Eric's attempt to come and say hello.

Wildlife educator Jackie Hasling said Eric was known locally as an unusual emu, though she does not know why the animal is called Eric.

"She's certainly a little legend around Bluewater," she said.

Ms Hasling said Eric had been raised as a pet so was likely more friendly than non-domesticated emus.

In a statement, the council said local laws did not prohibit someone keeping an emu on blocks larger than 2,000 square metres, as long as applicable laws were met, including an adequate enclosure.

"I don't think Eric will be aggressive," Ms Hasling said.

She said if an emu displayed threatening behaviour, the advice was to back away slowly and give it as much space as possible.

She said hold up a rake or a stick to appear taller and try put something, like a tree, between yourself and the bird.

As for the poo on the driveway? "Yep, that is definitely frustrating," Ms Hasling said.

With no-one taking action, Mr Richards continues to be followed around by someone else's pet emu.