News
18 September, 2023
Wildlife sign requested at Woodford locality
A WILDLIFE sign is needed at Ironbark Drive in Woodford, according to wildlife rescuer and Caboolture resident Tiffani Wilton who has lodged a request to City of Moreton Bay (formerly Moreton Bay Regional Council).
Tiffani, who travels the Moreton Bay and surrounding areas to rescue sick and injured wildlife, requested a flashing sign due to a number of incidents occurring at night time.
While a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said there were currently no approvals for LED wildlife signage at Ironbark Drive, Tiffani was hopeful that some type of animal warning sign would be installed.
“Ironbark Drive is surrounded by beautiful bushland and wildlife, but unfortunately some people use the road to speed and endanger the lives of the animals,” she said.
“Most of the wildlife are nocturnal animals that start their ‘day’ at night time, making wildlife harder to see.
“Locals often find themselves removing deceased animals from the road and checking pouches for surviving babies.”
Tiffani said she had been called to Ironbark Drive for wallabies, kangaroos, possums and echidnas, while it was important to remember other animals such as turtles, ducks, snakes, and birds were also affected.
Tiffani said she had observed on Woodford community social media pages that near misses were a common occurrence every day.
“Wildlife can be unpredictable, which is why those signs are so crucial,” she said.
“They serve as an important alert for humans to be aware of the potential dangers and take necessary precautions.
“It’s great to see the community coming together to raise awareness and prioritise the safety of both humans and wildlife.”
Tiffani said locals had urged people to slow down and had expressed their concerns on social media since 2020, while it was unfortunate that more wildlife organisations were being alerted to perform rescues on this specific road.
Tiffani said she had succeeded in having Council put up four other wildlife signs in the Moreton Bay region: two at Caboolture River Road, one at McNamara Road in Rocksberg, and one at Jackson Road in Bellmere.
“With rescuing comes paperwork, and that paperwork holds statistics which came in handy for when I speak to Council about requesting wildlife signage,” she said.
“This told Council the types of animals that were getting injured or killed and how many.”
Tiffani said the Council passed her information and requests to the Department of Environmental Science, which forwarded it to the Green Infrastructure Team for actioning.
“It’s great to know that the funding for the signage comes from the Council itself,” Tiffani said.
“A team from the Council and/or the Green Infrastructure Team visits the requested roads to assess and determine the best spots for placing the signage.”
As for how long it could take to have a sign installed at Ironbark Drive, Tiffani said, “The other signs I have had success with took around three months, which is a helpful time-frame to keep in mind.”
Tiffani stressed that it was crucial for people to slow down and be extra cautious during dusk, dawn, and nighttime when wildlife was most active.
“If you come across an animal that has been hit, it’s important to check if they have a pouch and to contact your local wildlife organisations for assistance,” she said.
“They have the expertise to handle and care for injured wildlife.”
