By Tyler Wright
This winter has brought an increased number of dead and injured wildlife throughout the Cardinia Shire Council and Yarra Ranges Council local government areas (LGAs).
Between 1 June and 31 August 2021, there were 460 reports of injured or dead animals within the Yarra Ranges LGA made to Wildlife Victoria – a number which rose to 536 in the same time period in 2022.
The Cardinia Shire LGA has also seen an increase in dead and injured wildlife over the winter period, increasing from 196 reports in 2021 to 266 in 2022.
Carol Seeger runs the Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter based in Kallista, and said this winter season had brought a “terrible increase” in wombats being hit by cars in the Yarra Ranges.
Along with her carers, Carol is currently housing about 30 wombats and joeys found injured.
“Around [Kallista] and Emerald, Menzies Creek, I had to put some down [and] they were still alive,” Carol said.
“I had to go out to one near Choo Choos [restaurant] in Emerald, and it died just as I got there.
“The lady had pulled it off the road, but she didn’t hit it; the person that hit it just left it.”
Hotspots for injured wildlife callouts include Monbulk, Emerald, Menzies Creek, Macclesfield Road and Wellington Road specifically.
According to data from Wildlife Victoria, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo has suffered the most in the Yarra Ranges municipality with 520 reported in the past year, closely followed by 367 ringtail possum reports and 233 wombats.
“People are coming home [at] 5pm or 5.30pm – it’s still dark, just on dusk,” Carol said.
“Another girl who works as volunteer, she goes down Wellington Road and in a couple of weeks she counted 16 dead kangaroos down there.
“We’ve had a bit of a reprieve with Covid, not as many people were on the road, so as soon as Covid [restrictions] stopped you started getting more [reports] because animals got used to, very quickly, not as many cars being on the road.”
Wildlife rescuer for Wildlife Victoria and volunteer for the Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter, Leanne Sultana, has attended to 10 reports of injured wombats in the past two months, a “drop in the ocean” of the total amount of injured or dead wildlife in the Yarra Ranges.
Leanne said wildlife rescue service Help for Wildlife advised her it received 28 reports of dead wombats hit by vehicles throughout the Yarra Ranges this winter.
Wildlife Victoria CEO Lisa Palma said there had been a 15 to 20 per cent increase in case volumes each year for struck, injured and orphaned wildlife around the state.
“Our wildlife face increasing threats due to habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, urbanisation and climate change,” Lisa said.
As these injuries increase, volunteers at local wildlife rescues like Carol’s will continue their effort to nurse the wildlife back to health, with a word of advice for motorists heading into spring.
“Pull [wildlife] off the road at least, and don’t lay them on their stomach because they smother the baby, too,” Carol said.
“Either lay them on their side or upside down…always pull them off the road, or ring somebody straight away.”
To report a wildlife emergency, contact Wildlife Victoria on (03) 8400 7300 or submit an online form via the Wildlife Victoria website at wildlifevictoria.org.au/wildlife-information/report-a-wildlife-emergency
