Poor planning in Melbourne’s northern fringe is pushing wildlife onto the roads to be killed or injured by traffic, according to Wildlife Victoria.
Between December 5 last year and January 6, the wildlife emergency service helped 93 injured or orphaned animals in Hume, more than anywhere else in the state.
Whittlesea council, with 91 call-outs to injured animals, was a close second.
Wildlife Victoria relationship manager Amy Amato said this was a recurring pattern.
“We’re seeing huge increases in the number of injured wildlife in the northern peri-urban fringe because of a lack of planning in new housing estates and not incorporating wildlife corridors into the planning process,” she said.
“Animals are getting pushed out of their natural habitats and onto the roads.”
In Hume, the five main animal species tended to by Wildlife Victoria have been the eastern grey kangaroo, wallaby, blue-tongued lizard, brushtail possum and magpie.
Most call-outs have been to animals in Sunbury, then Craigieburn, Bulla, Greenvale and Mickleham.
In the Whittlesea municipality, the eastern grey kangaroo, blue-tongued lizard, rainbow lorikeet, sulphur-crested cockatoo and ringtail possum are the most common species caught in the firing line of urban sprawl.
South Morang is the most affected area, with Mill Park a close second, followed by Epping, Bundoora and Whittlesea.
Northern suburbs wildlife rescue volunteers Julie Malherbe and Andrew Cameron collected 79 dead kangaroos from roadsides in just eight days to January 6.
“It hasn’t been pleasant,” Ms Malherbe said.
She said most injured kangaroos were found on Plenty, Donnybrook, Yan Yean, Craigieburn East, Bridge Inn and Epping roads.
Ms Amato said possums featured prominently in the statistics, mainly because of attacks by domestic pets.
“But probably more surprisingly, 6000 kangaroos required assistance,” she said.
“Many of these are from the peri-urban fringe of our city and suburbs as the urban sprawl expands rapidly into wildlife territory.”
If you see sick or injured wildlife on public roads, call a vet, Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535 or Wildlife Rescuers on 0417 506 941.
For sick or injured domestic animals and livestock on public land, call Whittlesea council on 9217 2170 or Hume council on 9205 2200. The council cannot attend to animals on private property.
