Preserving the wildlife

[PhilipA]

After reading Brendan's posts about this OZ trip, one thing that surprised me was the amount of wildlife he had mowed down.
At that rate we will not need any roo shooters in future, just subsidise some more Brits.LOL
AFAIR he hit 1 sheep, 3 roos, 1 wedgie and another bird or two. This is not a go at Brenden, just an opening for a discussion on how to avoid em. I have taken off my bullbar so maybe that makes me more careful.

I did many of the same roads as Brenden over 2 trips and 13 weeks, and hit nothing NADA.
My first golden rule is do not travel at sundown or if I do slow down to 70Kmh or so.
Second, when I see some wedgies/crows on a carcase start blowing the horn in short toots from several hundred metres away, and slow down to 70-80. Ditto Galahs etc. Often I could slow right down and they would stand their ground. There were 8 on one carcase in Sturt NP, and a couple just looked at us with disdain as we pulled up, It was a great moment.
I fitted a new set of horns in Broken Hill of all places as my OEM ones had become feeble from water entry.

Third If I see one sheep/roo/cow/bull/ goat/pig cross the road, slow down and start blowing as there are almost certainly more to come.

I have driven many many station tracks,the Savannah Way, Stuart Hwy, Oodnadatta , Strezlecki, Merty Merty, most Flinders roads,etc this year alone.
In 20 + years and a couple of years as a professional driver and many other roads I have NEVER hit a roo/sheep/wedgie , although one jumped into me once on the Adavale Stock Route. I must admit I have hit a couple of Galahs over the years.
Any other ideas that are effective?
Maybe Brendan can spread the word in Blighty.
Regards Philip A.

[rangieman]

Dont worry there are plenty of roo,s to go around ;)
Where,s that tree i need a hug:p

[isuzurover]

I agree 100%.

If I have to drive at dusk I always drive with the local fauna in mind. I have been driving around the bush for about 15 years and in that time I have only hit one roo/wallaby and one galah.

The roo was near dusk on a windy track with a cliff on one side and a mesh fence on the other. Came around a corner (only in 2nd or 3rd) and neither of us had anywhere to go. The poor guy had a couple of broken legs so I had to put him down.

The galah was in the middle of the day near canberra (feeding on spilt grain in the middle of the road).

[isuzurover]

and here is the only reason I will forgive Brendan his roadkill count...he does not know how Australian wildlife behaves

even so - pretty bloody hard to hit a wedgetailed eagle!!! Must have been breaking land speed records for a landy???

[scarry]

I also agree 100%
That roadkill count is not good...:(

We also do not drive before sun up or after sundown.
We also slow down on seeing wildlife/stock on the road ahead
It's all part of reading the road conditions

and here is the only reason I will forgive Brendan his roadkill count...he does not know how Australian wildlife behaves

As the years have gone by, I have noticed we seem to see less and less wildlife, even out in the sticks.

Me to,but i still recon land clearing is the biggest killer of wildlife.
I have lived in this area for around 40yrs,and have noticed many types birds have just dissapeared.Some of the ones that migrate through this area just dont appear anymore.Rainbow bee eaters,koels,dollarbirds,pacific bazzas to name a few,dont appear anymore.
As for wallabts,bandicoots,etc,theres no hope for them,nowhere to live & also dogs& cars.

Anyway what do you do,it is all this development we have to have.

As for the wedges,their natural habitat,& food source has dissapeared.Rabbits filled the gap for a while,but their numbers have dwindled as well.Carrion was always part of their diet,and it is easy to find,just its on a main highway,and as they are large birds very slow & low at take off,are accidents waiting to happen

Just my rant for the week

[JDNSW]

As mentioned above - the big threat to wildlife is not vehicles hitting them, but development. And specifically, increasing human population. The destruction of habitat plus introduced competition and predators are the major threats, not road kill.

I have no shortage of roos in particular - plus birds, pigs, foxes, rabbits, emus, wombats and echidnas, plus the odd cat and lots of other wildlife.

After nearly fifty years of driving in the bush, I could number on one hand the animals I have hit - but I still would not risk driving in the bush without a bullbar, although the last damage I had from an animal was a roo that ran straight into the side of me behind the rear wheel - I was doing about 30kph in broad daylight having slowed to allow his mates to cross in front of me.

I regard the kangaroo as the only serious animal risk, although people do hit others (and don't ever run over an echidna!). Where possible I avoid driving round here near dawn or dusk - not because of the risk to animals, but because of the risk to ME. If I have to, I drive slowly and keep a good lookout.

John

[Mick-Kelly]

Just to be different we had a large roo in the front yard at dawn last week. :eek: We live:eek: in suburbia so it was a bit of a shock. Either that or it was one hell of a toad.

[abaddonxi]

Had a friend break his legs seriously enough to be told he might never walk again after running into a cow on the way back to the hotel after a film shoot.

Another friend's wife was killed when a kangaroo was hit by an oncoming truck and thrown into her windscreen.

A few months after that I was driving in the country, with an oncoming semi and avoided exactly the same accident by inches.

Cheers
Simon

[CraigE]

Animals being hit by vehicles is the lowest threat to their species survival. While it is not nice it is a fact of life in Australia, especially out of the cities. It can be far more dangerous to try and avoid them than driving at 70kms per hr on a 110 km stretch of road at this time of night is far more dangerous as other vehicles may not be able to slow in time on bends or crests and I have seen too many of these crashes.
If you are that concerned about hitting wildlife, then rather than driving at 70kms at low and bad reflective light times, you are much better off to stop and have acuppa and wait until the sun goes down. It is much easier for other traffic to gauge your speed with your lights on and darkness compared to sunset or sunrise lighting.
If possible I will stop or drive around wildlife, but will not swerve or brake dangerously either.
I will always get out and check what I have hit and if require euthanase the animal or if a chance of survival tender assistance and get to a carer.
Have picked up many animals over the years, some we have hit some others have hit and left.
The easiset answer if you are losing sleep over this is to hang your keys up for good.;)
All removing your bull bar does is create more danger for the occupants should you hit an animal. They are still going to die with or without a bullbar impact.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

On our outback trips so far we've probably done about 30k. So far the only animal we've hit was a small bird. We don't travel on dusk as you are always cooking dinner then. :)

[29dinosaur]

Biggest problem I face are wombats (they tend to go cathump cathump under the vehicle and then run away) or the occasional horse, cow or roo. I once drove from Meekathara to Geraldton at dusk and it was one of the most hair raising trips I've ver done - to many bushy places for roos to dart out from.

[Treads]

I do a lot of night driving and haven't hit anything after dark. I put it down to good defensive driving practice and excellent vehicle lighting. All of my cars that I've driven on long night runs have had good quality driving lights and headlight lamps. Since getting my Disco and fitting Lightforce driving lights I haven't even gone close to hitting a roo; I always see them a long way off, slow down and blow the horn to scare them off the road.

[carjunkieanon]

Having been involved in mustering some frisky steers that jumped a cattle grid and ran onto the Hume Highway (they turned toward Wagga, away from Sydney) - I greatly appreciate people not hitting beasties on the road - PLEASE SLOW DOWN and watch for animals.

A friend of mine was knocked off his sports bike (100km+) by an eagle. He lived, the eagle didn't.



There's a line in the Jimoein (sp?) movie 'The Craic', they get a lift with a woman truckie, she hits a Kangaroo and keeps driving. She says totally deadpan, 'Hit a cow once, .... F****n thing exploded.' - best line in the film.

r

[ATH]

When I worked up around Fitzroy and Derby the locals recommended no speed above 70 -80kph at night/evening/dawn because of the cattle on the roads.
That didn't stop the turkeys I worked with from having a comp. to see how fast they could get from Derby to the RAAF base we were building. 42 kays in about 20 minutes from memory.
In Fitzroy a bloke hit a cow through going too fast for the conditions, the Commodore overturned and the passenger was killed when something got jammed between his head and the roof.... 1 injured cow which they eventually shot with a .22!!! and 1 dead person.
As others have said the destruction of habitat is the thing most likely to kill off native wildlife and on another forum (EO) someone was advocating the damming of Kimberley rivers for agriculture etc. just to feed the teeming hordes!
Bugger the birds and animals lets have lots of grub to stuff in our faces and loads of profit to line the pockets of multinationals!
Alan.

[Tank]

Driving the Hay Plains at night on the route to Adelaide, back when I was driving interstate has to be the worst for hitting Roo's and Pigs. Mostly used the Low Loader trailer to Adelaide as used to bring back the pre-fab concrete walls for the (then) new Federal Parliament House.
I would hit up to 10 to 15 Roo's and Pigs each drive down, return trip was during daylight, so no problem. First thing when arriving at Depot in Adelaide was get the high pressure hose out and hose the hair and blood off the gooseneck of the trailer, otherwise it would go hard and it was a bugger to get off then.
Travelled the Hay Plains a few years ago in a car at night and hardly seen a Roo and no pigs, maybe they have learnt to look both ways before crossing, Regards Frank.

[Shonky]

Mum was considering trading in the Patrol Trayback and getting a Falcon Wagon for the long commutes to Sydney every weekend. She reasoned that she can just put larger stuff on a trailer if required, and round the farm she can use one of the old bashers. :wheelchair:

Despite my best efforts she seemed convinced that this was a good idea - until yesterday when she hit a BIG grey bastard (Roo) full on... That seemed to snap her out of it! :twisted:

I still have to replace the spotties that got destroyed though. :(


I hit a smallish one a few months back - I caught it on the edge of the bar, right in the centre of his chest. It ripped him open - I had a lung end up stuck on the windscreen and the whole truck painted red from the arterial spray when his heart was torn out and caught the traylight on the way over the cab... :eek:


I have managed to avoid hitting many animals so far. I have clobbered two roos, two birds and plenty of bunnies (I may have been aiming for the bunnies... :twisted:) I have tried to no avail to find a bull bar for my ED Fairmont, but luckily the roo I hit in that was at low speed and a small roo. I am probably replacing it soonish so it doesn't matter now. Bars for AU Falcons are readily available, or I may even get a Disco... :angel:

[Bushwanderer]

I agree with much of the above & so won't repeat it.

I have been told that wedge-tailed eagles are more of a problem as they don't have any natural predators and so don't keep a watchful eye out. And I'm sure that you've all seen their lumbering efforts to get airborne.

Perhaps killing of wedge-tailed eagles is becoming more of a problem with the change in policy to leaving roadkill on/by the road as a warning to inexperienced drivers.

Recently, while driving north from Adelaide on the Stuart Hwy, I saw many wedge-tailed eagles on carcasses.

I forget where I had stopped (Alice?) and was speaking to someone about the sightings and said that, luckily, the carcasses were all off the road only to be told that many locals stop & remove the carcasses from the road in order to reduce roadkill of wedgies. I now also do this when I can stop safely.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[Bushwanderer]

Hi NM,
Yes, that is true, but I wasn't considering THAT sort of wildlife. :D

[Tusker]

Its wheat season in a few days/weeks, so watch for galahs gorging themselves on the spilled grain, they're slow to take off.. and invariably take out a headlight.

And emus are usually in pairs. If you see one, look for the other.

Regards
Max P

[scarry]

And if you ever see a drop bear,grab the camera & slow down as they are always in groups of three:D:;)













:wasntme:

[Bundalene]

It's unfortunate hitting any wildlife, we've had our share of road kills over the years of travelling, and always have tried so hard to avoid it.

Now, as we don't have to rush our holidays, we never drive after dark or really early in the mornings. We did find ourselves caught in the late afternoon a few years ago near Gregory Downs, and came very close to hitting a huge Brahman Bull which ran out from behind some trees. It scared the living daylights out of us:eek2:

It's much nicer to stop, make camp and enjoy the sunsets.

Our daughter Sharon and her husband are currently hand rearing 3 joeys which have been orphaned.

[JDNSW]

OK not driving at dawn and dusk if you can avoid it, and I can usually avoid it. But you have to feel for those who can't. With the drought, most farm families have at least one working off farm, and these quite often have a commute of 150km or more - and depending on the time of year this will be right in the dusk/dawn period.

A couple of years ago I talked to a panel beater in Dubbo who reckoned that about three quarters of his work was thanks to kangaroos.

Earlier this year when I had my grandchildren in school here, I went to a school function - one of the mothers turned up in a six tonne truck with a cattle crate on the back - all the other vehicles on the place were at the panel beaters!

John

[EchiDna]

small point of correction - there is IMHO a difference between vermin and wildlife. The day you see me slow down for a rabbit/hare/fox/feral cat would be a strange day indeed. Big stuff that will hurt like pigs, donkeys, camels, goats I guess I would have to slow down for due to risk of damage (never come close to one of em yet!), but I wouldn't feel sorry for collecting one either... cattle, horses, sheep are probably someone's livelyhood so I'd avoid unless impossible to do so... actual "proper" wildlife like roos, emus, wombats, echidnas, goannas and joe blakes I would take all safe precautions to avoid.

[45tr0]

I agree with a lot of what has already been posted - just wanted to say that a good pair of spotties are essential when you have little choice but to travel country roads late at night. Have saved me from quite a few animal strikes.

Amusing story from the Pilbara the other day - my 2IC's husband drives Road Trains full of Diesel out to the mines for Mitchell West - on the way out to Telfer there are a lot of small crests in the road and it's nigh on impossible to see what is over the next one.

There is no other traffic though, so the drivers just barrel on through - which is exactly what he was doing when he came across 7 camels lying in the middle of the road. :eek: With 120,000L of Diesel aboard you don't brake in a hurry either...

The first two went straight under and into the bar, and acted like a scoop to pick up the other five. two through the lights and front grille, one into the windscreen, and the other two went over the top and smashed the stacks and the sleeper :eek2:

Had to pressure wash half a (cooked) camel out of the engine bay...

[JDNSW]

......

....... which is exactly what he was doing when he came across 7 camels lying in the middle of the road. :eek:.........

Bit like a bloke I knew in the sixties - was driving a drilling rig, came over a crest at about 50mph and found fence to fence sheep.......

John

[Bushwanderer]

Hi NM,
Actually it's me, trying to get in. :D

Yes you are right, it's a bearded dragon that was on the road NE of Broken Hill. I stopped near it and tried to shift it off the road. It avoided all attempts, finally climbing onto the nearside rear wheel - as per avatar. Finally, it decided that I was more scary than it & took off. :D

It's a special moment. :)

Best Wishes,
Peter


I just noticed your avatar

Is that a dragon trying to hitch a ride? :D

[Bushwanderer]

Gees I'm glad that I hadn't said that I've avoided wildlife. :eek:

In the '80s (yes they did exist) I was a member of a rally club, but couldn't match the costs for the Southern Cross Rally - held outside of Port Macquarie every year.
One year, I was following some mates (in my Renault 12R :D) at night to a new viewing point. As per, we were allowing some space between cars. I crested a hill only to find that a cow was across the road. There was "bugger all" space between the cow and oblivion.:eek: I managed to swing to the rear of the cow, but still hit it.

When I stopped, the cow was still in the middle of the road, but now on it's belly. It then got to its feet and moved on.

The barstard:D


I agree with a lot of what has already been posted - just wanted to say that a good pair of spotties are essential when you have little choice but to travel country roads late at night. Have saved me from quite a few animal strikes.

Amusing story from the Pilbara the other day - my 2IC's husband drives Road Trains full of Diesel out to the mines for Mitchell West - on the way out to Telfer there are a lot of small crests in the road and it's nigh on impossible to see what is over the next one.

There is no other traffic though, so the drivers just barrel on through - which is exactly what he was doing when he came across 7 camels lying in the middle of the road. :eek: With 120,000L of Diesel aboard you don't brake in a hurry either...

The first two went straight under and into the bar, and acted like a scoop to pick up the other five. two through the lights and front grille, one into the windscreen, and the other two went over the top and smashed the stacks and the sleeper :eek2:

Had to pressure wash half a (cooked) camel out of the engine bay...

[CraigE]

Hi NM,
Actually it's me, trying to get in. :D

Yes you are right, it's a bearded dragon that was on the road NE of Broken Hill. I stopped near it and tried to shift it off the road. It avoided all attempts, finally climbing onto the nearside rear wheel - as per avatar. Finally, it decided that I was more scary than it & took off. :D

It's a special moment. :)

Best Wishes,
Peter

Peter,
they are awesome animals. Great photo. Tonnes of times in Kambalda when doing dam runs after rain there would be one sitting in the middle of the road, so I would stop and open the door of the ute and several time one would walk up close to the car and just look up at you.
Had many experiences growing up as kids with lizards. At one stage me and some friends had an old above ground swimming pool frame where we would keep some permanent residents and any injured ones until they were well. We also kep 6 or so at school and used to look after them in the science class. Sleepy's, blue tongues, bearded dragons, a frill neck or two and even a thorny devil at one stage. No way you could do it now. But I still encourage our kids to look and learn to handle and to encourage lizards in our yard.

[PhilipA]

I reckon I can match that .
I have a Land Mullet ( which I think is also called a Sleepy) about 70CM long in my yard at Avoca Beach.
Must be about the southernmost. Maybe its Global warming.
Regards Philip A

[PhilipA]

Its wheat season in a few days/weeks, so watch for galahs gorging themselves on the spilled grain, they're slow to take off.. and invariably take out a headlight.

And emus are usually in pairs. If you see one, look for the other.

OK Another tip.
A flock of Galahs will ALWAYS take off in one direction then turn 180 degrees and recross the road.
So get them flying early by bolowing the horn, slow down and expect the 180.
Regards Philip A

[CraigE]

OK Another tip.
A flock of Galahs will ALWAYS take off in one direction then turn 180 degrees and recross the road.
So get them flying early by bolowing the horn, slow down and expect the 180.
Regards Philip A
Reminds me of when I had my HQ PV, nice summer day and my brother driving misjudged a flock. Hit about 20 of them square on and of course I was laying in the back with the tail gate open. PV full of Galah feathers as they all got sucked into the back.
:D:D

[CaverD3]

small point of correction - there is IMHO a difference between vermin and wildlife. The day you see me slow down for a rabbit/hare/fox/feral cat would be a strange day indeed. Big stuff that will hurt like pigs, donkeys, camels, goats I guess I would have to slow down for due to risk of damage (never come close to one of em yet!), but I wouldn't feel sorry for collecting one either... cattle, horses, sheep are probably someone's livelyhood so I'd avoid unless impossible to do so... actual "proper" wildlife like roos, emus, wombats, echidnas, goannas and joe blakes I would take all safe precautions to avoid.

Agree, when I was working as a fieldie out at Cobar was saw a large saddleback sow on the hard shoulder. We were in an original nissan Patrol with a decent steel bullbar.The driver swerved and manged to hit it dead centre, you could feel it hit the bullbar, lift the front diff, bump the transmission before hitting the rear diff. Stopped to make sure it was dead, only to see it get up, shake itself and trot iff into th brush.
Wild pigs are survivors, no wonder they are such a vermin problem.

[John W]

Thing I like about this thread is that we all love our Oz wildlife. My sad story was seeing a thorny devil crossing the road on the highway some place south of Carnarvon WA. By the time I stopped and turned around with the caravan in tow it had been hit by speeding cars. Copped bucket load of abuse from car drivers for slowing and turning off as I recall. It was the first one we had seen so propped up the poor dead thing with some twigs and took a photo. Led into a rendition of Montypythons "This Parrot is Dead" just to really annoy my kids.

[29dinosaur]

I know this has been posted before - but I reckon it's worth another review. Supposedlyhttp://pileopics.com/sets/deer_hunting/images/1.jpg a deer went through the grill of a BMW:

[29dinosaur]

Sometimes you might even come across a horse:

http://www.mtcowgirl.us/images/Pix/Kos_HorseCar.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/907.jpg