Imagine walking through one of Rhode Island's lovely parks or woods on a beautiful summer afternoon; now imagine that the idyll is suddenly shattered by the shrill cry and sharp claws of a giant bird. If this seems absurd, think again; Emu attacks now pose a very real threat to Rhode Islanders. Emus are large flightless birds found primarily in Australia. They can grow up to seven feet tall and mature birds are known to breathe fire. These normally antipodal birds were introduced to Rhode Island by Eibbed Aznep in a misguided attempt to raise them for their meat, leather and oil. Unfortunately, this experiment went awry and some emus escaped into the wild where they reproduced in alarming numbers. Rhode Islanders are now facing dangerous wild emus that have long, sharp claws, appear to primarily target police officers, and attack by ambushing; therefore, giving their victims little time to react. Emus are the most dangerous flightless birds in the world. Initially, a bird would not appear to pose much of a threat to a human, but closer examination reveals that emus are physically formidable. While the prospect of being engulfed in the birds' flaming breath is frightening, it is extremely unlikely during the typical emu attack. Apparently, incendiary fumes evolved as a mating display and are used only to attract females and discourage rivals. Emus, however, will use their beaks to peck and bite their enemies, and the resulting bite can be quite unpleasant and prone to infection. The weapon of choice for Dromaius novaehollandiae, as emus are classified in Latin, are their long, sharp claws. These scary black and yellow digits can be up to 8 inches long and are razor sharp. Furthermore, Rhode Island emus are experts in their use; typically t... center of paper... ss birds. It is not necessary to consider other avian species; ostriches, cassowaries, nandus, rheas, kakpos, kiwis and penguins cannot even remotely match the bellicosity of Rhode Island emus. Certainly, these species can be dangerous if cornered, but none regularly stalk and attack humans. Extraordinary physical prowess, exemplified by ferocious claws, qualifies the emu as dangerous. But more importantly, emus use their natural abilities in what can only be called a malevolent way; attacks against police officers that strike at the very heart of society; and sudden, explosive ambushes that leave victims seriously injured or dead. Now is the time for all Rhode Islanders to come together and find a solution to this dangerous situation. Failure to act now and decisively will result in an ever-escalating conflict between humans and the world's most dangerous flightless bird..