Keeping koalas safe from dogs in suburbia

With a number of koalas having been attacked by dogs in recent months on Redlands Coast, Redland City Council is reminding dog owners what to do in such a situation.

Mayor Jos Mitchell said that if you are on the mainland and your dog has attacked or tried to physically play with a koala, even if you think it has gotten away unharmed, please call the Redlands 24hr Wildlife Rescue Service on 3833 4031.

“The RWRS volunteers will rescue the koala and transport it to a wildlife hospital for further assessment or treatment,” she said.

“Due to a koala’s thick fur, injuries can be hard to spot. Koalas can also easily suffer from internal injuries from crushing bites that have left no mark. If untreated, these injuries can be fatal.

“With the koala breeding season underway and running through to January, these iconic marsupials will be more active in our neighbourhoods.”

The Mayor said if the incident occurred on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) then the number to call is Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah on 0448 466 556.

Council recently launched an awareness campaign about the issues, including dog attacks, that koalas face during the breeding season.

“It is based on the message that koalas have not evolved to be able to deal with dogs; that they are not combat ready,” the Mayor said.

Dog attacks have historically been ranked as the third most significant impact on koalas and are usually caused by domestic dogs.

Council encourages all dog owners to be responsible by exercising their dog on a lead while in public, unless being exercised in a designated dog off-leash area.

Attacks are more likely to happen during the breeding season. Even friendly and curious dogs can unintentionally harm a koala through play or stressing the koala.

How you can make your yard dog and koala friendly Give your dog its own play area, fenced-off from the rest of the yard.Check your trees for koalas and inform your neighbours when you see one.Keep your dog confined inside or tethered at night when koalas are most active.Retain and/or plant trees in your yard.Put fence escapes for koala, such as a wooden pole or plank, up against your fence.

Council has also worked in partnership with behavioural change researchers from Social Marketing @ Griffith University to deliver a training program called Leave It that helps dog owners teach their dogs basic obedience, such as not to bark at or chase wildlife, including koalas.

You can download the free Leave It app from leaveit.com.au

 How and why dogs harm koalas Most dogs are instinctive hunters. They will attack koalas and other wildlife in your yard because they are defending their territory.Some dogs may simply want to play with a koala. Sadly, even in play they can kill, harm or stress a koala.Barking dogs stress koalas as well as people.While dogs have strong teeth and jaws which can cause severe injuries, koalas have delicate skin which is easily punctured or bruised.Koalas do not regard dogs as predators and will come down to ground even if dogs are around. Who to call if a dog attacks any native animal Mainland, Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Coochiemudlo Island – Redlands 24hr Wildlife Rescue Service on 3833 4031North Stradbroke Island – Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah on 0448 466 556

To join the koala community and learn more about koalas on Redlands Coast and how you can help them, go to Council’s koala conservation page at redland.qld.gov.au/koala