Amy Hume
Wildlife rescuers across Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges are seeking the support of property owners to prevent injury to wildlife in fencing.
“Callouts to wildlife caught in fencing are the next most common wildlife rescues after road hits,” wildlife rescuer Ian Slattery told the Express.
“Kangaroos are the species that fencing causes the most problems for. Often roos will try to jump a fence and misjudge the height.
“This often results in their feet getting constricted between the top two strands.”
Ian specialises in macropod (kangaroo and wallaby) rescues and has been working across central Victoria for the past 15 years.
He said there were practical ways for property owners to lower the risk of fencing to wildlife.
“Barbed wire and ring-lock fencing is an absolute nightmare for all wildlife – it just rips their legs or wings apart. If people do need to have fencing there are other options that are friendlier to wildlife,” he said.
“Property owners can consider using fine mesh. Another thing that can help is lowering the height of fences or leaving a couple of areas with gaps at the bottom so roos can go underneath. Removing any old, unnecessary, fencing helps too.
“Roos find it more difficult to judge fence heights at night. I encourage people to put white tape on the top wire to increase visibility.”
Property owners are asked to check their fence lines and surroundings regularly for signs of injured wildlife.
If they find a kangaroo caught in a fence on their property they are encouraged to call in a wildlife rescuer to assist.
“People often think they are doing the right thing by cutting a roo out of fencing but it can create other problems,” Ian said.
“If the kangaroo has been injured after getting caught and it hops away as soon as it has been freed we then have an injured animal in need of care that is much more difficult to find and treat.
“The best thing to do is to call a rescue group for help to they can sedate the roo before it is freed. That way the roo can be properly assessed and there is less risk.”
Ian advised people should only free a kangaroo themselves as a last resort and if they can keep it contained to be assessed for injuries.
For Wildlife emergencies, contact Wildlife Victoria on 8400 7300.
