The kangaroo population in the Mount Lofty Ranges is increasing, driving more of them to come in closer contact with people as they search for food and shelter.
It is important that people are aware of how important it is to enjoy these native animals from a distance. To minimise risk to them and your family:
- Do not feed kangaroos. This increases risks of becoming aggressive and overly reliant on your food source, plus will likely be unsuitable to their dietary requirements.
- Do not allow pets to chase or harrass kangaroos. Kangaroos will defend themselves when confronted and might cause serious injury to dogs and other animals. They will also eject any joeys when under threat, leaving that infant extremely vulnerable.
- Consider fencing gardens and high-value crops, and limit the available resources around your home that attract kangaroos such as open water, sheltered areas and food.
- Keep a safe distance from kangaroos and make sure any children and visitors know to do the same. Kangaroos are wild animals and may attack a person if they feel threatened.
If you feel that there is an unsafe or destructive number of kangaroos in your area, we encourage you to contact the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources on (08) 8204 1910.
If you find an injured kangaroo please call the Fauna Rescue of SA Inc. Wildlife Hotline on (08) 8289 0896.
If you locate a dead kangaroo please call Council on (08) 8408 0400 or report it here.
The South Australian Government is currently proposing changes to the management of kangaroos across the state, including the Adelaide Hills (Mount Lofty Ranges) area. The draft South Australian Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2020-2024 is pending an outcome, with a report outlining recent community comment and any changes to the draft to be published on the YourSay portal in early 2020.
