Gold Coasters are being urged to be extra vigilant on the roads and ensure their pets are under control to help protect koalas, kangaroos and other native animals during dispersal and breeding season.
For many of the city's furry residents, the cooler months mean they are much more active, especially between dusk and dawn. It's also the time of year that joeys are leaving their mothers for the first time.
A male koala joey, Corey, is currently being treated by the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital after he was attacked by a dog while on one of his first big journeys.
Mayor Tom Tate asked Gold Coasters take some simple steps during dispersal and breeding season from June to December to ensure more koalas like Corey are not hospitalised, or worse.
"Slow down, look out for our locals and you could save a life," Mayor Tom Tate said.
"Keeping our wildlife safe is a team effort and we are urging all Gold Coasters to do their part by keeping their pets under control, koala proofing their backyards and taking care on the road.
"Vehicle-strikes are one of the biggest causes of injury and death to our local native animals which is why we are urging Gold Coasters to pay attention to wildlife warning signs.
"We share our backyards with some unique and special wildlife. We are asking you to take care for their sake."
Residents are urged to slow down and be vigilant on the roads particularly in wildlife areas, keep their pets under control, koala proof their property with koala-exclusion fencing, and provide trees, posts or ramps to help koalas escape their property.
The City has the following in place to help protect our wildlife including:
The Wildlife-vehicle Collision Mitigation Program which implements mitigation measures on priority hotspot roads across the city
- Speed activated wildlife signs to warn drivers to slow down
- Fauna-exclusion fencing to keep animals off our busy roads
- Buying and protecting land for native wildlife habitat
- Providing Wildcare with an animal rescue ambulance
- Restoring and enhancing wildlife corridors through strategic tree planting
- Working closely with Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) to install safe koala passage under the new M1.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital senior veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne OAM said dispersal season was when they saw a sharp rise in koala admissions due to trauma.
He said Corey wandered into a backyard when the dog attacked, leaving him with three deep puncture wounds and two lacerations.
"Young koalas like Corey are navigating roads, fences, dogs, and unfamiliar landscapes for the first time," Dr Pyne said.
"Without the support of people slowing down on roads and making sure backyards are safe, many koalas won't make it."
Dr Pyne said there was some hope this year for koalas with 40 joeys and 12 "grand-joeys" born among the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital's chlamydia vaccine research population. He said this was proof the vaccine was working but koalas still needed help through dispersal and breeding season.
If you see an animal injured or in distress contact Wildcare on 07 5527 2444.
Wildcare will safely transport injured animals to organisations like Currumbin Wildlife Hospital where they will be treated, rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Deceased animals can be reported to the City on 07 5567 5976.
