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Escape artist: Facebook posts help track Doug the wayward emu

By Jayla Nartatez 4 min read

NEW ENTERPRISE -- The roads around New Enterprise are flanked by grassy fields and crops, livestock -- cows, horses, goats, sheep and chickens -- and backyard pets, like dogs and cats.

But, for those with a keen eye, one backyard stands out due to the large flightless birds that call it home.

Rocky Allen Claar's backyard is no ordinary patch of grass; instead, it's an oasis to Doug, Bebu and Lemu, Claar's three pet emus.

While the trio don't promote car insurance while performing dangerous stunts for Liberty Mutual, Doug has found himself in the spotlight as central Pennsylvania's newest celebrity after a recent jaunt down the road.

About two weeks ago, Doug took liberty seriously by jumping a fence and escaping his backyard enclosure, leading Claar on a wild emu chase.

Despite the ability to jump nearly any size fence, Claar said "these guys pretty much stay here. ... They're protectors and are very protective about their territory."

When Doug escaped, Claar said he believed the emu was trying to chase after an animal that invaded his territory.

To round up Doug, Claar enlisted the help of his neighbors by taking to Facebook, asking for people to keep a look out for the big bird. Facebook users reached out with a few jokes, many prayers and lots of support for Claar and Doug.

About 1 p.m. that day, Oct. 8, Doug was safely brought back home, all tuckered out from his adventure, according to Claar's Facebook post, which had one user stating she was "EMUtional" over the reunion.

A unique story

Before Doug was recognized for taking a run up Brumbaugh Mountain, he and his ladies, Bebu and Lemu, have a unique story of how they became a family.

Roughly three years ago, Claar received three emu eggs from his job working for an Everett biotech company that works with a variety of species of animals, including emus. When he received the eggs, Claar said he didn't expect to hatch anything, as hatching emu eggs is very complex, but he hatched all three with an incubator.

"It was all just kind of a happy accident," Claar said.

Jay and Jackie Claycomb, Claar's grandparents, live across the street and have been a vital part in helping Claar with his journey. In fact, Jackie was the first to see Doug when he hatched as the very moment took place in her basement while Claar was at work.

"I went down in the basement and there was a baby emu standing there," Jackie said.

Raising the three emus as his pets, Claar has learned a lot about the birds and has bonded with them, especially Doug.

Doug is a very friendly, curious and loving emu while the girls, Bebu and Lemu, are more territorial, timid and only like being close to Claar when he has treats. Out of the three, Claar said Doug is typically the escape artist and either finds his way back home or is rescued.

Over the last few years, Doug has become Claar's buddy and is the only emu that he can handle and treat like a dog because he's so affectionate. Every day, Claar said he looks forward to seeing the emus and he knows they feel the same.

Raising emus as pets has been very interesting, Claar said. They're very curious, Claar said, noting their personalities are like babies and it feels like he's raising children.

In the summer, Claar said all three of the emus love playing with water as he squirts them with the hose and fills up a kiddie pool. They also enjoy being fed treats like meal worms and leafy greens. Doug loves anything red, Claar said.

In addition to his emus, Claar has also hatched a turkey that he rehomed and has 13 chickens. But it's the emus that are his "pride and joy."

In a fenced area in Claar's backyard, Doug, Bebu and Lemu roam free and interact with each other. Claar said Bebu and Lemu sometimes fight for Doug's love and affection and, last year, the female emus both started laying eggs.

Claar and his birds have become known in the local community. With surrounding farms having cows, horses and sheep, everyone knows when they see an emu on the loose, it probably belongs to him and they give him a call.

Interested in getting an emu of your own?

"Be prepared for an adventure," Claar advised.

Mirror Staff Writer Jayla Nartatez is at 814-946-7535.

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