koalas & us

How Can You Help?

Development is rapidly encroaching on remaining bushland in the Redlands and suburban gardens now form an essential part of the koala's territory. The future of these koalas is largely dependent on the attitudes and actions of landowners and residents. You can help by understanding their environment.

Drive slowly and carefully at night, this is when you are most likely to encounter wildlife crossing roads.

Ensure your yard is dog-free at night. Either bring your dog inside, attach a gate to a patio enclosure or attach a chain to their kennel. After a short time, your dog will enjoy being tucked in each night and can best guard you being close to your house. The Seven Misconceptions About Koalas & Dogs

Ensure your fences are koala friendly. Koalas need to cross through yards to reach nearby food trees. If you already have a brick or metal fence, a post or tree either side will help. Capping fence tops and bridging with timber from fence to tree enables koalas to move more freely. Alternatively, a 40cm gap at the bottom of your fence will allow koalas to go under it. Existing trees can be incorporated into new fences. Koala Friendly and Unfriendly Fences

Leave an escape board across the corner of your pool, preferably near the step. Koalas can swim but cannot grip slippery pool surfaces to escape should they fall in while attempting to drink. A thick rope suspended into the pool can be a useful escape device. For advice phone 3823 5575.

Koala using fence to cross yard Report any koalas with the stress related disease of chlamydia. Symptoms may include cystitis (brown wet bottom) and conjunctivitis (eye infection). Koalas with cystitis will be dehydrated and may come down for water. If a sick koala is on the ground, approach quietly and place a large box over it, with a weight on top and call 3299 1032. (Do not leave in sun).

If you have eucalyptus trees on your property, please retain them and ensure they remain accessible to koalas at night. For tree identification phone 3823 5575.

Plant more trees. Even small suburban yards are suitable to plant a koala food tree provided it is kept to a manageable height by pruning. Footpaths in quiet streets can make an excellent wildlife corridor. The Koala Action Group has its own tree nursery specialising in eucalyptus trees propagated from local seed. For tree sales phone 3207 1088.