Marine turtles and dugongs are protected under the Australian Government’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which lists them as marine and migratory species, and also by various state and Northern Territory legislation. Six species of marine turtle are protected by the EPBC Act – the leatherback,…
Brushtail and ringtail possums are both native marsupial species that have adapted well to urbanisation and are commonly found dwelling in Australian gardens. Ringtail possums are a social species that build nests of bark and leaves called ‘drays’ in which they usually dwell as a family. Brushtail possums are larger,…
Snakes are attracted to potential food and water sources and safe, quiet places to hide. To reduce the risk of snakes finding your backyard or property attractive, keep the grass low, clean up any rubbish piles and clear away objects where snakes may be able to hide (e.g. wood piles,…
The first thing to do is, relax! Blue-tongue lizards are not poisonous and do not pose any threat to people or their pets. In fact, they can be a very helpful friend to have around the garden as they eat snails and caterpillars and other insects and can help keep…
The most likely time for people to encounter snakes in their garden is spring when snakes are becoming more active. If you see a snake in your garden or house, do not try to catch or kill the snake. Walk away slowly and keep an eye on the snake from…
There are four types of flying foxes which are native to mainland Australia; black, grey-headed, little red and spectacled flying foxes. They are fruit-eating flying mammals, similar to bats, which live in large colonies or camps, often in close proximity to people. This can cause several conflicts between humans and…
The following information provides some tips about how to deter ducks and other birds from pools: Change the landscape to make it less attractive to the birds Geese and ducks are attracted to areas with open water and large expanses of grass, such as golf courses, parks, and large lawns….
Yes, if you use the correct netting and install it properly, backyard fruit tree netting can be ‘wildlife friendly’. However, if not used in the correct manner, netting can pose a serious risk to wild animals. For example, flying foxes, birds, possums and even pythons can become entangled and can potentially…
Fraser Island, located off the Queensland coast at Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane, is home to one of the purest strains of dingoes in Australia. The dingoes are a protected native species on the Island as the majority of the island is a national park even though they are a…
Shark fin soup has been a traditional east Asian dish, symbolic of wealth and prestige, for several hundred years. In recent decades the popularity of shark fin soup has soared and the effect on wild shark populations has been disastrous. Shark fins are sourced from wild shark populations, usually by…