{"id":843605,"date":"2026-06-04T10:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T10:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/843605\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T10:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T10:28:22","slug":"terri-irwin-reveals-the-only-animal-that-made-steve-irwin-nervous-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/843605\/","title":{"rendered":"Terri Irwin reveals the ‘only animal’ that made Steve Irwin nervous"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not many things, from deadly snakes to big cats, unnerved the late Steve Irwin<\/a>, but when it came to the “naughty parrot,” the wildlife expert would get slightly nervous, according to his wife.<\/p>\n

“You might not know this, but the only animal that made Steve a little nervous was the naughty parrot!” Irwin’s wife, Terri Irwin, wrote in a May 30 post on Instagram<\/a> alongside a photo of her late husband and a red parrot. “Every parrot tried to get in a quick bite before Steve could react!”<\/p>\n

Irwin, who was popularly known as the “crocodile hunter<\/a>” for his abilities to capture and safely secure problem crocs, died on Sept. 4, 2006, after a stingray struck him in the heart as he was working on the underwater film “Ocean’s Deadliest” in Australia. He was 44. The famed conservationist is survived by his wife, Terri Irwin, and two children, Robert Irwin<\/a>, “Dancing With the Stars” Season 34 winner<\/a>, and Bindi Irwin<\/a>, who is also a\u00a0“Dancing With the Stars” winner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Terri remembers Steve on couple’s 34th wedding anniversary<\/p>\n

Terri, in a June 2 Instagram post<\/a>, also celebrated her marriage to Irwin and her move to Australia.<\/p>\n

“34 years ago the adventure began\u2026marrying Steve, moving to Australia, two beautiful children, and a life dedicated to wildlife conservation,” Terri wrote in her post. “My heart is full. I am truly blessed.”<\/p>\n

Terri, then Terri Raines, a visiting tourist, met Irwin just two days after he took over the management of Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park in October 1991, according to the Irwins Australia Zoo<\/a> website. The couple married on June 4, 1992, in Eugene, OR.<\/p>\n

Irwins Australia Zoo<\/p>\n

That park later became Australia Zoo, and the couple’s “mission was to make this zoo the very best in Australia, if not the world,” according to its website.<\/p>\n

“Extensive efforts were made to create habitats, so that all zoo animals could be exhibited in natural environments,” it adds.<\/p>\n

While Irwin died before his vision could come to fruition, Terri and the couple’s two children are committed to ensuring Irwin’s legacy lives on. Australia Zoo is now spread over 700 acres and employs more than 500 people, continuing Irwin’s mission of “Conservation Through Exciting Education.”<\/p>\n

This story was updated to fix a typo.<\/p>\n

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Terri Irwin reveals which animal made Steve Irwin ‘a little nervous’<\/a><\/p>\n