As the suburbs of Melbourne stretch their fingers further into the rural landscapes of Australia, the clash between urban development and wildlife becomes increasingly evident. It’s a story that repeats itself with distressing regularity, and one that recently unfolded in Whittlesea, where the encroachment of the city meets the natural habitat of Australia’s iconic wildlife.
In a sobering reminder of the unintended consequences of urban expansion, a Melbourne-based volunteer wildlife rescuer shared a ‘heartbreaking’ encounter with a kangaroo in distress. The animal was found dangling by its foot in a tall wire fence, a sight all too familiar to those who work in wildlife rescue.
The kangaroo’s plight was first noticed in the early morning by a local dog owner, Chris, who immediately contacted Wildlife Rescuers. Volunteer Michael was quick to respond, wrapping the kangaroo in a towel and coordinating with Chris to cut the fence and free the trapped animal. ‘It doesn’t take long for them to do irreparable damage when caught in fences, so she was very lucky to come out of this with no serious injury,’ Michael explained. However, he cautioned that the absence of physical injury didn’t guarantee the kangaroo’s safety, as stress-related diseases such as myopathy could still pose a threat.
This incident is not an isolated one. Michael recounted multiple instances where kangaroos were found caught in fences, some needing to be euthanised due to severe injuries, others already dead and torn apart by predators. The common denominator in many of these cases is barbed wire fencing, a known hazard to native wildlife. Surprisingly, in this particular case, the section of the fence that ensnared the kangaroo was devoid of barbed wire, yet still proved dangerous.
The strands of a regular wire fence can intertwine, creating traps for the legs of animals like kangaroos. ‘Even if there is no barbed wire, it can still tear skin and shred their feet,’ Michael warned. This incident has sparked a conversation about the responsibility of property owners to mitigate these risks. Suggestions such as attaching white tape to the top rung of wire fences have been proposed to increase visibility and prevent such tragedies.
One local woman expressed her dismay online, ‘Sickening that this is happening day in and day out all around our beautiful country. You’d think that more landowners would at the very least attach a piece of white tape to the top rung of wire to make it more visible.’ Michael concurred, noting that while it’s rare to see, adding reflective tape can significantly improve visibility for wildlife attempting to leap over fences.
In a remarkable act of conservation, Victorian property owner Doug Gimesy removed 17 kilometres of barbed wire from his Wongarra property after witnessing a kangaroo caught in the fence on his first day there. The task took ten months to complete, but it was a commitment to the safety of the local wildlife. Michael praised Doug’s efforts and even offered to assist other property owners in removing hazardous fencing.
As for the kangaroo at the centre of this story, she remains in care, alongside other injured wildlife, being closely monitored by dedicated rescuers.
Have you ever encountered wildlife trapped by fences, or have you taken steps to make your property more wildlife-friendly? What other solutions do you think could help mitigate this issue? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—we look forward to your insights!
Also read: Public warning after kangaroo attacks man outside central Queensland home
