Townsville drivers dodge roaming crocodile and pet emu on local roads

From dodging 2m crocodiles to meeting a pet emu named Eric, Townsville's roads have delivered some seriously wild encounters that sound almost too bizarre to believe.

Pictures taken by a Giru resident of a large saltie living on her property. "Parks have been but won't do anything about it," she said.

Townsville drivers have dodged crocs and emus on the roads this week, Palm Island is dealing with a new saltie, and some very ugly cockatoo babies have made their debut.

Saltie on Woodstock-Giru Rd

A night-time drive turned into a shocking surprise for local Jurgen Hauschild, who reported nearly running over a 2m crocodile at the Ironbark Ck crossing on Friday, December 5.

“Wow, that was a first for me,” Mr Hauschild told his neighbourhood Facebook group.

“At Black Gully (more accurately Ironbark Ck, where everyone goes fishing) an approximately 2m croc jumped back into the water as I tried to stay on the other side of the road.”

Mr Hauschild said he believed the croc was a saltie, however admitted to being more focused on the road than the croc to avoid “joining him in the creek.”

“That beast was big enough to have caused some serious damage.”

One neighbour said she’d heard about a saltwater croc being in that area a couple of years back, and another resident reported seeing a croc in the same spot last week.

Ironbark Ck is part of the Healeys Lagoon system which joins with Woodstock-Giru Rd at Black Gully.

For anyone unsure if saltwater crocs were in the area, they were certainly assured when Giru resident Melissa Hudson posted a picture of a large saltie who lives just 4km away from Ironbark Ck in a waterhole on her property.

Pictures taken by a Giru resident of a large saltie living on her property. "Parks have been but won't do anything about it," she said.

Mr Hauschild said he’s dodged “pigs, roos, cattle, snakes, and even emus” on the Woodstock-Giru Rd, but a croc was a first.

Speaking of emu...

Bluewater emu

On Thursday a motorists posted a warning that an emu was out on Forestry Rd in the early morning - 5.40am to be exact.

The poster said the emu “casually walked to the side of the road” as the car slowly went past then started running alongside their vehicle.

“It was pretty cute, he didn’t look scared of us.”

Eric the Emu: Like all good birds, Eric rises with the sun and was out on a stroll when he delighted early-morning motorists on Thursday, just before 6am.

The post received its typical back-and-forth discussion over why an emu was in the area, until Darryl Brown cleared things up.

“His name is Eric and he is a pet, he just likes exploring the neighbourhood,” Mr Brown said.

“He was raised from a chick and loves watermelon, even got his own YouTube page Eric the Emu.”

Eric the Emu: Stills from shorts of Eric posted to YouTube channel 'Eric the emoo'.

Eric the Emu: Stills from shorts of Eric posted to YouTube channel 'Eric the emoo'.

The Townsville Bulletin was able to locate this page - “Eric the emoo” which contains 15 shorts of Eric getting around Bluewater, fighting with roosters, eating dog food and “sinkin tins” at the patio table.

Case closed on this one.

Palm Island croc

Back to croc news where Palm Island is on alert after a suspected saltwater croc was spotted last week.

The alarm was first raised on December 1, when council receive a report of a possible crocodile sighting near the Jetty Ramp and published the news.

According to the sighting report, the croc was seen at 2.40am.

While there were a few demanding a picture or they wouldn’t believe it, a handful of passionate residents started debating the community’s need for a public pool.

“Well I guess it’s time that Palm Island community should have our own public swimming pool, for the safety of the community in general?” one person commented.

“I’ve been saying that from as long as I can remember but naah they would rather risk our children’s safety because we’re on an Island, Magnetic Island has a pool,” another person said.

“Doomadgee, Normanton and Burketown has a swimming pool, why can’t one of the biggest Aboriginal Community here have a swimming pool?”

“Everyone should go and put this motion into action at the next council meeting,” another person said.

Ugly babies make their debut

Endangered pink cockatoo couple 'Charlie and Bambini' have successfully hatched another clutch of eggs and are in the process of raising the new additions at Billabong Sanctuary.

Some baby photos make you go ‘awww!’ others - such make you question what’s in the picture.

Such is the fate of all baby cockatoos who suffer through a hilariously awkward baby and fledgling stage.

On Friday, Billabong Sanctuary blessed us all with photos of their newest cockatoo chicks.

“Charlie and Bambini, our beautiful Pink Cockatoos, have successfully bred again,” the Sanctuary told its fans.

Endangered pink cockatoo couple 'Charlie and Bambini' have successfully hatched another clutch of eggs and are in the process of raising the new additions at Billabong Sanctuary.

“Their chicks are healthy, thriving, and slowly beginning to explore just outside the hollow under mum and dad’s watchful guidance.”

Pink Cockatoos were listed as an endangered species in 2023. The species was previously known as ‘Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo’ or ‘Leadbeater’s cockatoo’.

Originally published as Townsville drivers dodge roaming crocodile and pet emu on local roads