Feeding Wildlife

Human beings seem to have a desire to feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife can cause many problems.

• Dependence on fluctuating food sources supplied by humans, rather than natural sources
• Inadequate dietary balance and possible health problems
• Alteration to the community structure of the animal population with potential consequences for other species of plants and animals. The feeding station may also act as a focus for predators
• Transmission of diseases or harmful chemicals as a result of contamination of the food or feeding location or direct tranmission between animals at the feeding station
• Conflicts arising between human social and economic needs, and wildlife, including human disease transmission

It is recommended that no animal is fed bread. Bread does not contain the nutrition most animals require and will harm them. The ingredients of bread and its texture can also harm animals.

Wallabies

Feeding bread to wallabies can cause them to develop a condition called lumpy jam, which is an infection of the gums.

Pony pellets are unsuitable because some of the ingredients contained in them could be harmful to wallabies.

Specialised macropod pellets are available. They also contain a medication for coccidiosis - a parisitic disease affecting the intestinal tract.

A mixture of macropod pellets and chaff is available at Turner's Garden Centre at 473 Miles Platting Rd Rochedale.

Wallabies also like green lawn. Green lawn immediately around your house will also reduce your risk of fire.

Keeping wallabies around your property might help in reducing the number killed on the road.

Kookaburras

Kookaburras are meat eating animals. People commonly feed them mince meat. Mince meat can get stuck in their beaks and cause an infection preventing them from eating.

Have you also noticed how kookaburras "kill" their food by gripping it in their beak and banging it on a branch? They can't do that with mince meat!