Drought raises roadkill

By Kath Gannaway
STEELS Creek residents have found that dry dams and scorched paddocks are not the only problems that have come with the drought.
According to Healesville Police and Yarra Ranges Shire there has been an increase in the number of kangaroos killed on the roads over the past month.
Sergeant Tony Van Gorp last week issued a warning to motorists who travel on Steels Creek Road to be aware that kangaroos looking for food and water were coming out of the bush to graze on the roadside.
He urged motorists to slow down and drive defensively particularly in the early morning and evenings.
The increase in Steels Creek and other areas of the shire is also putting pressure on the shire’s ability to quickly remove the carcases.
Hunts Lane residents discovered last week that can lead to even more problems than the putrid stench.
James Martin, Shire of Yarra Ranges manager of community relations, said a pest exterminator had to be called in after the carcass of a large kangaroo killed on the Monday night was found to be infested with European wasps and deemed too dangerous to move.
In response to concerns by residents about the delay in removing the carcass, Mr Martin said the shire endeavours to remove road kill within 24 hours of it being reported but the simultaneous increase in road-kill and wasps was causing delays.
He said a shire officer went out on Tuesday after a call to the shire’s after-hours service on Monday night.
“The carcass was too big to be removed by the officer and a backhoe was called in for the following day,” Mr Martin said.
It was then removed on the Thursday afternoon after a pest exterminator sprayed the wasps.
“We are noticing that many of the carcasses are wasp infested and because wasps are quite prevalent at the moment it does take time before we can get pest exterminators to attend,” he said.
To report dead animals contact the Shire of Yarra Ranges on 1300 368 333.
For injured wildlife phone Help for Wildlife on 0417 380 687.