Backyards can be a safe space to relax and unwind.
But for Logan’s koala population, they can be deadly traps.
So the Wildlife Watcher initiative, a koala conservation program managed by Griffith University, has hosted a series of pop-up sessions across Logan this year to teach residents how to transform their backyards into havens for the endangered native.
Here are some top tips from the team to help you get started in your own backyard.
First, ensure koalas have a way of leaving your property incase they happen to stumble in.
“Contrary to popular opinion, koalas do climb down from the trees and move around at night,” the Wildlife Watcher team said.
“Koalas live in complex social groups and individual members of koala society maintain their own ‘home range’. These home ranges can be as great as 1 to 1.5 hectares, depending on their age and size.
“The home ranges koalas live in are becoming an increasingly urbanized environment, requiring them to travel through our suburban backyards, putting them at risk of dog attacks or becoming trapped from food and shelter.”
To give koalas a helping hand, locals can create koala-friendly fencing or install exclusion fencing.
Koala-friendly fencing can be made by modifying existing fencing, such as leaning a wooden log at an angle against the fence, or by choosing certain materials like timber or chain wire mesh to build a fence, so that a koala can easily climb.
You can even add a plank or board to the top of your fence to allow koalas to walk across without entering your backyard.
Exclusion fencing is unclimbable for koalas, preventing them from entering your backyard in the first place.
This can be created by attaching a strip of metal or Perspex sheeting to the top section of an existing fence, at least 900mm wide, or by building a fence out of brick, metal sheeting, or Perspex.
If a koala is in your backyard, the Wildlife Watcher team says it is important to keep them safe from pools and pets.
“Although they can swim, koalas will drown if they cannot get out of the pool,” the team said.
“Help keep them safe by providing an escape route.”
An escape route can be made by using attaching a flotation device to a thick rope, which is secured to a tree or post at the other end.
Other ways to protect koalas include fencing the pool area with a koala-proof fence made by transparent glass, Perspex or steel, installing a ramp or ladder in your pool, or simply covering the pool when it isn’t being used.
Veterinary operations manager at Endeavour Veterinary Ecology, Julien Grosmaire, said pools are one of the greatest risks to koalas in backyards.
He said all residents – in both suburbia and rural areas – should ensure their backyard is safe.
He gave an example of a young koala called Nemo who recently drowned in a local pool.
“Nemo was only a young, little male who had recently become independent from his mum,” Mr Grosmaire said.
“As koalas grow, they try to find a new space and so he was move around quite a bit.
“He went through someone’s backyard and unfortunately there was no adequate fencing around the pool – Nemo must have fallen in one night and wasn’t found until the next morning.”
Pets, specifically dogs, are another major threat to koalas, according to Mr Grosmaire.
Locals are advised to keep dogs inside at night or in a confined space when koalas are most active.
“Most dog attacks on koalas happen in the dog’s backyard at nighttime,” the Wildlife Watcher team said.
“Be aware and take extra care during koala movement seasons. Koalas are most at risk of being attacked by a dog between July and September.
“The risk peaks in September with this month recording the highest number of dog attacks than any other.”
The team also advises providing your dog with wildlife avoidance training.
Mainly, this includes teaching your dog to come back every time you call, and teaching your dog a stop, such as sitting or dropping.
With all these tips combined, koalas will have a much safer time in Logan’s backyards.
