Watch out for roos and wallabies

A LOCAL wildlife rescuer has pleaded with Surf Coast drivers to slow down and be wary of the large number of kangaroos and wallabies active in the area.

Last week, Jason Cichocki from the Surf Coast Animal Rescue Service wrote on a Surf Coast community Facebook page that he had responded to collisions that had hit and killed 10 animals (seven kangaroos and three wallabies) in the space of two mornings.

He said collision hotspots were from Strathmore Drive in Jan Juc to the Bellbrae roundabout, from Addiscott Road in Bellbrae to Forest Road in Anglesea, and from the roundabout on Anglesea Road at the end of Coombes Road to Freshwater Creek.

“Please slow down and be extra careful when driving through these areas either late at night or early in the mornings, as these are the times that the kangaroos and wallabies are feeding and on the move most.

“By slowing down you will only add a couple of minutes at the most to your trip, but by doing so you will not only potentially save the life of a kangaroo or wallaby, but you might very well be saving your own life and that of those in the car with you as well.”

He said people who collided with a kangaroo or wallaby should not hesitate to phone him on 0422 048 557 “at any hour of the night or early morning” to assist and also check for any kangaroo or wallaby joeys in pouches that could be saved.