‘Road graffiti’ from a likely wildlife rescuer artist has been been praised as Three Chain Road residents hope to see wildlife road trauma reduce.
The large yellow wombat sketch was seen sprayed on the road about 6kms west of Lancefield last week, alerting drivers to a nearby wombat that had been hit and killed by a car.
Three Chain Road resident Darryl Bennie commended the ‘artist’ for warning drivers of the incident and a potential regular crossing point.
“I think the idea of sketching the location of dead wombats on the road surface at the same time the dead wombat is checked out would better bring to the attention of the public the number of wombats that are killed on Three Chain Road and maybe reduce the number that are killed,” he told the Express.
“The section of the road from Dons Road/Three Chain intersection to the location of this death is renowned for wombats.”
Macedon Ranges wildlife rescuer Debbie Gwyther-Jones knows all too well the dangers for wombats and kangaroos crossing Three Chain Road, having attended many incidents there.
While she acknowledged there would be a mixed community reaction to the sketch she understood the intent.
“It is definitely a hot spot for kangaroos and wombats being hit,” she said.
“I think this (sketch) is a fantastic idea and very effective as a visual reminder to people. I have not seen this done before.”
One Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network volunteer told the Express they had been out to at least 750 callouts for animals injured on local roadways this year alone.
Ms Gwyther-Jones said there were several factors that came into wildlife road trauma including road speed, driver inattention or complacency, poor driver vision of roadsides, lack of driver care, and other factors.
“Kangaroos and wombats often move around the same routes and cross in the same places so there is a greater need for community awareness around these locations,” she said.
“Wildlife can be unpredictable around roads so accidents will happen but better education and visual reminders may help to reduce this.”
