Living with wildlife

Kangaroos are peaceful animals that usually avoid conflict. Like any wild animal though, kangaroos can become defensive to protect themselves and their young if they feel threatened. Kangaroos can sometimes impact farming by causing damage to crops and pastures, and compete with grazing livestock for food. In our urban communities, kangaroos can occasionally cause traffic accidents.

Using common sense around wildlife is the best way to stay safe.

• Don't walk directly towards a kangaroo
• Be mindful of how you appear – don't stand up tall, stare or hold your arms out towards a kangaroo
• Avoid going near kangaroos engaged in courtship or mating behaviour – for example, males sniffing, touching or moving around with females
• Mating and courting can happen all year for kangaroos
• Stay away from male kangaroos that are sparring, fighting or showing off their size and strength to each other
• Don't go near a kangaroo that is growling or clucking
• Don't move towards or between a female and her joey
• Keep pets on a lead and away from kangaroos, which will vigorously defend themselves against dogs.

• Avoid close encounters with kangaroos
• Don’t try to touch, pat or feed them
• Don’t move towards them, or corner them
• Use a torch or spotlight when moving around your garden at night if you suspect kangaroos may be there
• Scan the area to avoid accidentally approaching a kangaroo resting in your yard
• Don't deliberately try to scare a kangaroo from your yard. This may make the animal aggressive in an attempt to protect itself. It could also scare the kangaroo onto a road and cause an accident
• Give them space. You may not like having a kangaroo in your yard, but they won't harm you if left alone
• Remove reasons for kangaroos to visit your yard, such as water sources
• You can also spray plants with a browsing deterrent (product sprayed on plants which animals don't like).

• The State Government sets the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which is the edge of our suburbs. The State Government is also responsible for approving Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) that enable urban development to occur within the boundary
• PSPs in Whittlesea require all residential developers to prepare a Kangaroo Management Plan and have it approved by DEECA as part of any subdivision
• We will always coexist with native animals. We are working with the State Government and other stakeholders in our region to find ways to plan for wildlife and manage kangaroo populations. This affects others living in areas outside our community as well.

Keep pet dogs on a lead if you are visiting an area where kangaroos could be present.

Dogs can be badly injured or even unfortunately killed by chasing kangaroos.

Penalties apply for having your dog off lead, and for an attack on a kangaroo.

• We are aware of kangaroos frequenting sporting fields where there is plenty of grass to feed on. We are working with the state Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to look at suitable solutions
• The safety of the children and others using the space is paramount
• Please don’t approach the kangaroos or put your club volunteers in danger
• While fences are not a suitable option to manage kangaroos on sporting fields, we will put up signage to help guide residents and clubs.

• Be aware that kangaroos may cross roads at any time. However, they are particularly active at dusk and dawn
• Look out for wildlife feeding near the roadside
• To avoid startling kangaroos, turn off your high beams and don’t sound your horn. If you have an accident with a kangaroo and the kangaroo is injured, call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300.

If you find a kangaroo on a busy road that is causing a traffic hazard, call 000. If you come across a dead kangaroo that has been spray-painted, this means a wildlife rescuer has checked the pouch for joeys.

We will be putting up signage around populated areas and sportsfields to warn people of the presence of kangaroos.

There are road safety standards and guidelines around signage on the sides of roads, which we must adhere to.

• Council is not responsible for the management of kangaroos or any other wildlife and is not resourced to provide a full wildlife rescue service
• If you see an injured kangaroo, call Wildlife Victoria 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 03 8400 7300
• While our Animal Management team plays a role with the euthanasia of kangaroos if required, it is Wildlife Victoria that can help organise a local carer for injured or sick animals
• If you come across a dead kangaroo that has been spray-painted, this means a wildlife rescuer has checked the pouch for joeys and the kangaroo has been reported for collection.

As our population expands, the management of kangaroos is increasingly important.

The City of Whittlesea is advocating for a regional approach to kangaroo management to reduce the risk of landlocking kangaroo populations and ensure the ongoing health and viability of kangaroos in the municipality.

• The Eastern Grey Kangaroo prefers open habitats and is willing to live near people. They are often seen where our houses are built alongside bushland
• Rural and semi-urban developed areas with lawns, water sources and shady areas are ideal living conditions for the Eastern Grey Kangaroo
• In summer, grasslands become dry and kangaroos look for food sources closer to humans, such as lawns and sporting fields
• As our developed areas move into the kangaroos’ habitat, people are more regularly coming into contact with them
• This is common across the whole of eastern Australia, not just the City of Whittlesea.

Relocating

Relocating kangaroos is highly invasive for them and also difficult, as kangaroos are wild animals and need to be sedated.

Kangaroos typically do not cope well with being captured and relocated. Evidence shows they may not stay in their new location, and might try to return to where they came from.

If they try to leave their new location, there is an increased risk of causing hazards by crossing roads while they are disorientated.

Fencing

Fencing is often not an option because kangaroos are widespread and fencing every reserve or park to contain kangaroos is not practical.

In areas where they have been fenced in, kangaroos have continued to breed and then slowly starved during dry times.

Culling

As kangaroos are a protected species, it is illegal to cull them without a permit.

Applications to cull kangaroos must be submitted to and approved by DEECA.

Culling kangaroos is a last resort that in urban areas also requires approval from Victoria Police to use high-powered firearms in a populated area.

A common pasture grass called phalaris can be toxic to animals that graze on it.

Symptoms commonly seen in kangaroos that have chronic phalaris toxicity poisoning include:

• muscle tremors
• abnormal or erratic movement
• repeated falling over
• it may appear that the kangaroo is drunk or staggering.

There is no known treatment for this condition in wildlife.

If you suspect a kangaroo with chronic phalaris toxicity poisoning, contact Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300.

In Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action's Conservation Regulator is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Wildlife Act. This Act protects native wildlife, including the Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

Landowners in the City of Whittlesea are responsible for managing risks to animal welfare and for ensuring that land use does not contravene the Wildlife Act.

• To report injured, sick or orphaned wildlife, including kangaroos, call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300
• To report people harassing, harming or disturbing kangaroos, call the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action on 136 186 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
• To report dogs chasing or harassing kangaroos, call Council on 03 9217 2170 or DEECA on 136 186
• To report kangaroos in parks, call Council on 03 9216 2170
• To apply to manage kangaroos, call DEECA on 136 186

Freeze. Stay as still as you can.

You may have to wait a while for the snake to move off, but this is your best option.

You can yell for help. Snakes are more worried about movement than sound vibrations.

Try to coax your pet away, or if you can get close enough, calmly pick up your pet or lead it away.

• Mow your grass regularly.
• Keep compost heaps well away from the house.
• Remove piles of rubbish.
• Reduce other pests like mice, which snakes feed on.
• Screen doors and windows, and try to block possible points of entry.

• Snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.
• It is illegal to capture, harm, or kill wildlife.
• Snakes are best left alone, they will go away by themselves.
• You can call a licensed snake catcher to remove them for you.

People:

• Give first aid and seek medical advice by dialling 000.
• Try to stay calm, or keep the person calm.

Animals:

• If a pet was bitten, call your veterinarian for advice.
• Try to keep your pet still and calm. 

• You can't kill a possum by poisoning or any other means. They are protected by the Wildlife Act 1975.
• There are many proprietary possum traps available.
• You may need to call a professional wildlife catcher in your area.
• You can access more information on the Wildlife Victoria website on their managing wildlife – possums page. 

• Block off suspected access points.
• Install a one-way flap; once outside, they can’t get back in.
• Prune all branches that are close to the roofline.
• Use metal or perspex collars around tree trunks to prevent climbing.
• Consider installing a nest box so the possums will use that instead of your roof.

• Their swooping behaviour is seasonal and coincides with their breeding season in spring.
• They do it to protect their nests and their babies.
• They are not predatory to humans and only do it to protect their young.

• Avoid areas where you know swooping occurs, if you can.
• Cover your head. Wear a hat or use an umbrella.
• Magpies are less likely to swoop groups of people. Walk with friends.

Please don't:

• throw stones at the magpies
• destroy nests
• feed magpies.

As with all wildlife they are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.