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Emus have been accused of stamping down wheat fields and picking up large quantities of grain, and of jumping over barbed wire fences. As a result of farmer's complaints that emus were interfering with their crop production, the "Emu War" was launched by the Australian government in 1932, an attempt at their mass destruction by using machine guns and grenades. The "war" was largely unsuccessful, however, because emus are adept at camouflage and withdrawal; it is reported that only 12 emus were killed. Instead, a 1000 km long fence has been built, and successfully separates the emus from these cereal growing areas of the southwest. (Perrin and Middleton, 1985; Kapala, 1995)

Following the long hot summer of 1932, wild emus in the Murchison district of Western Australia went on the rampage in search of food and water - much to the chagrin of local farmers who feared for their crops. In a bid to stop the advancing emus along the rabbit-proof fence farmers enlisted the help of the army. Armed with Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds, a party, led by Major Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery, was sent to the Campion district where it was estimated 20,000 emus were causing damage. However, due to the abundance of food the emus were gathered in small groups, most of which were outnumbered by the 50 settlers who had turned out to meet Major Meredith and his men. A group of 40 emus was sighted and beaters were sent to herd them into firing range. At a distance of 1,000 metres the first burst of fire landed short, with the second killing about a dozen birds as they raced for the cover of trees.

In an attempt to improve its tally the army party resorted to ambush tactics. Later the same afternoon the guns were set up at a dam. Close to sundown, as 100 birds approached to within 100 metres, again the gunners opened fire. The birds scattered and dispersed, so much so that further shooting was pointless.

The following day a similar strategy was employed in a paddock where emus had caused widespread damage. This time a flock of more than 1,000 headed for water and the waiting guns.

Again the birds ran off, their escape aided by the jamming of one of the machine guns. Onlookers were surprised by the emus' ability to sustain injury and keep running. Major Meredith was quoted as saying: "If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds it would face any army in the world. They could face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks. They are like Zulus...."

Less than a week after the "Emu War" had begun the Defence Minister of the day, George Pearce, ordered a withdrawal. The action prompted debate in the House of Representatives, which included the following comments:

Mr Thorby (NSW): "Who is responsible for the farce of hunting emus with machine guns mounted on lorries? Is the Defence Department meeting the cost?

Prime Minister Lyons: "I have been told the Defence Department will not be paying the bill."

Mr James (NSW): "Is a medal to be struck for this war?"