Koala breeding season
09 Sep 2022
What does Spring mean to you? For koalas it is breeding season!
Every year between September and February, koala activity increases as last year’s joeys move off their mums backs and find their own home range.
During this time male koalas will often travel long distances looking for females. Male koalas can be identified by the loud bellowing and snarling noises they make as they move through the bush at night. They also have a larger nose than females and a distinctive scent gland on their chest.
The increase of movement over the spring and summer months - especially around dusk and dawn - can make koalas more vulnerable to threats including motor vehicle strike or dog attack.
There are some simple actions you can take to keep koalas safe:
- Drive to the speed limit and conditions. If you see a koala road sign or are driving through known koala habitat (including National Parks and State Forests) slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. Be especially cautious around dusk and dawn when koalas are more active.
- If you live in an area with koalas and you have a pet dog, bring your dog inside or keep it on a leash or in a crate overnight. If you have an enclosed fence, make sure koalas can escape - this could include leaving logs against the fence so koalas can climb out.
If you do find a koala that is injured or disorientated, contact your local wildlife rescue organisation. On the North Coast this includes:
- Northern Rivers area - contact WIRES on 1300 094 737 or Friends of the Koala on 02 6622 1233
- Clarence Valley to Macksville area - contact WIRES 1300 094 737
- Kempsey - Port Macquarie area - contact FAWNA 02 6581 4141 or Port Macquarie Koala Hospital 02 6584 1522
And don’t forget you can always log a koala sighting, or koala call, in the application I Spy Koala!
This project is supported by Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Governments Environment Restoration Fund.
Photo Credit D Lunney, DPIE