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                    Humans and wildlife

                    Possum in a tree
                    There are many opportunities to see and experience wildlife in City of Melbourne's parks and gardens, nature strips, streetscapes as well as your own backyard. Find out the best times for spotting wildlife and tips for protecting our wildlife.

                    All Australian native animals are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. It is an offence to take, harm or disturb wildlife. Hunting, trapping or injuring animals, including possums and ducks, in public parks and gardens is illegal and fines apply.

                    Feeding wildlife

                    It’s important to remember not to feed the wildlife. Feeding wildlife can: 

                    • alter the natural behaviour of wildlife 
                    • contribute to their overpopulation 
                    • make some animals aggressive
                    • cause poor nutrition and spread disease 
                    • encourage the presence of vermin in the wildlife habitat
                    • often lead to unwelcome wildlife causing property damage in residential areas
                    • affect water quality and the natural environment.

                    Tips to protect our wildlife

                    Feeding wildlife, especially possums, can do them serious harm.

                    Disturbing, injuring or trapping wildlife including possums and ducks is an offence.

                    Remember that wildlife is wild so watch animals from a safe distance.

                    Domestic cats/dogs and wildlife

                    When taking your dog for a walk in the park, never let your dog chase birds or wildlife. Your dog may inadvertently cause damage by trampling habitat and may disturb feeding or nesting fauna.

                    For more information see Walking your dog (PDF 805 KB).

                    Cats also pose a serious threat to native wildlife populations, and have led to declines in many bird species Australia-wide. Please remember to keep your cat inside at night.

                    Possums and possum guards

                    • Possums are one of the well-known nocturnal park dwellers. They sleep during daylight hours and leave their nests in the trees or tree hollows to feed after dusk.
                    • Surveys have indicated possum densities of up to 15 possums per hectare in our parks. In a natural environment, typical possum densities may range from one to three possums per hectare.
                    • Increasing numbers of possums mean many park trees are now banded with possum guards (collars of sheet metal or perspex) to prevent possums feeding and nesting which can cause damage to foliage.
                    • Read our Ringtail and brushtail possums factsheet (PDF 1.1 MB)

                    For information on how to live with possums successfully, frequently asked questions and legislation regarding trapping of brushtail possums please refer to Possums (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning).

                    If you see a possum that you believe may be unwell or injured, please contact Wildlife Victoria on 8400 7300 or view their fact sheets and frequently asked questions.

                    When to see wildlife in Melbourne’s parks and gardens

                    In daylight hours, park visitors can expect to see and hear many different native and introduced birds, such as black and white magpie-larks (peewees). They are often seen in pairs, with the male easily identified by the appearance of a white eyebrow marking on his head with black plumage around the beak, while the female's beak is encircled with white feathers.

                    Towards evening, large flocks of colourful, noisy rainbow lorikeets search for roosting sites. Grey-headed flying-foxes can be seen at dusk, or at a colony at Yarra Bend Park in Kew. Nocturnal birds such as the tawny frogmouth and other various owl species have been observed. A number of different species of frogs can be heard calling in damp areas near ponds.

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