Protecting Koalas
In the past, new housing areas have been built in and around koala habitat. It’s possible that your backyard was once a koalas’ home. As such, koala populations may still remain in patches.
It is a privilege to be able to share your backyard with these beautiful animals, and there are a number of steps you can take to make your backyard koala friendly and contribute to the long-term survival of koalas and their protection.
It is a privilege to be able to share your backyard with these beautiful animals, and there are a number of steps you can take to make your backyard koala friendly and contribute to the long-term survival of koalas and their protection.
- Plant a tree. All trees give shelter from predators and adverse weather conditions. Ideally plant a koala food tree that naturally occurs in your immediate area. If you are unsure of what Eucalypts occur in your area your local nursery or the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens will be able to identify them from samples of leaves, fruit and bark.
- Before removing trees on your property you should check with the Council regarding its Tree Preservation Order. When permission is granted to remove or lop trees, please check carefully for koalas before work commences.
- When driving close to bushland or where the koala signs occur, be on the lookout for koalas wandering on the road. Koalas are particularly active during the breeding season from August to February. Being nocturnal they tend to be more mobile from dusk to dawn.
- Prevent your dog from roaming after dusk and keep it on a lead when walking.
- Dogs roaming freely in and near bushland areas are a significant threat to koalas in Port Stephens. You may think your dog isn’t aggressive but even good-natured dogs can be unpredictable around wild animals.
- A quick bite is enough to kill a koala. Their skin is thin and internal organs are easily punctured.
- Report to local wildlife carers any koalas that have been attacked by dogs. You will not be fined if your dog was responsible
- Report roaming dogs to Council, particularly if roaming near koala habitat.
- A dog bite almost certainly means a slow death for koalas.
- Observe koalas from a distance and make minimal noise as they can be easily stressed.
- Participate in or support local campaigns to protect and rehabilitate koala habitat.
- Keep wildlife care and rescue phone numbers handy. Have one in the glove box of your car. Report sick, injured or dead koalas to your local wildlife group.
- No pets? Build a koala friendly fence. (E.g. Post and rail, post and wire - not barbed on the bottom, or fences with a 200 mm gap underneath for koalas to move through. Alternatively, koalas can climb over fences made of sturdy chain mesh, or solid style fences with timber posts on both sides at regular intervals of around 20metres).
- Limit, or better still cease, your use of pesticides and herbicides, which can be toxic to koalas that eat quantities of soil to aid their digestion. They can also absorb poisons through their pads.
- Pool owners should dangle a sturdy, well-anchored rope into the pool to help koalas climb out.
Source - Port Stephens Council 2004
