SMBI Wildlife

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Threats To Our Wildlife

There are unfortunately a large number of threats to our SMBI Wildlife that are making a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of many species.

Human Activities – Please be aware that we live in the Moreton Bay Marine Park and boating, fishing and similar activities need to be done with our wildlife in mind. Also, when it comes to driving on SMBI, SLOW DOWN FFS – it isn’t a race track!

Accidental Poisoning – Please be very careful when laying out any form of poison – we have a number of native rodents, other small mammals and birds that may also suffer the effects of these baits. Please have a read of Rat Control and Local Wildlife for some more information where it explains the difference between First Generation Rodenticides (acceptable) and Second Generation Rodenticides (bad).

Pets – On SMBI (and in the rest of the Redland City LGA) you are required to keep your dog or cat in your property. This will greatly help in protecting our SMBI Wildlife, as well as protecting your beloved pets. Please have a read of the Redland City Council’s “About dogs and cats” page for more information on your responsibilities as a pet owner. Information on Pets and Ticks.

SMBI And Our Wildlife

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands and surrounding waters are home to a wide range of wildlife.

The most obvious and probably most commonly encountered is the Bush Stone-Curlew which is a ground-dwelling bird and can be seen on our roads and in our yards right across the islands (not to mention heard right through the night). Other native birds are the pied oystercatcher, red-capped plover, beach stone-curlew (vulnerable), sooty oystercatcher (vulnerable), Australian white ibis, magpie, currawong, kookaburra, boobook owl, tawny frogmouth and a number of other bird species. We also have the rare and threatened Glossy Black Cockatoos here.

We have a number of small mammals here, especially the bandicoot (fairly common) and also the water mouse (vulnerable), common brushtail possums (Russell and a few on Macleay), as well as a few bat colonies.

There are a number of lizards, geckoes and also some quite large (up to around 1.5m) monitors.

There are a few wallabies on Russell Island, but the numbers are decreasing due to the increasing road traffic.

As far as snakes go, we have mostly pythons, small eyed snakes and whip snakes.

We have a number of turtles, whales, dolphins, dugongs and other marine wildlife species that visit us. If you see a turtle that is injured, dead or in distress, please call Turtle Rescue or Seaworld Rescue ASAP.

Contact our Licensed Wildlife Carers

Please note that our wildlife carers are volunteers and have other family, community and work commitments. If you place a call to a wildlife carer, please leave a message and follow this up with an SMS regarding the issue. If you don’t get a call back soon, please contact someone else on this list. Not all volunteers are available at all times. If you get no response, please call Redlands Wildlife to arrange ferry transport and pickup from the Redland Bay Marina.

Also please note that to assist the volunteer carers, where at all possible you will be asked to drop the animal concerned at either the nearest vet or an available wildlife carer’s residence. At no time are animals to be left at a carer’s residence without the prior approval of the particular carer.

LocationNamePhone
*Wildlife Carers*
MacleaySteve Smiff
Marsupials, Reptiles, Raptors, Turtles
0435 957 777
MacleayHilton Travis
Bandicoots, Birds
Small Mammals
0444 525 659
RussellBella Curlew
Birds, Possums
0401 948 899
RussellMichele McCarthy
Birds, Macropods
0411 267 612
RussellTrish Harris
Frogs, Lizards,
Non-Venomous Snakes
0417 049 853
*Wildlife Organizations*
MainlandBARN Wildlife Care0405 056 066
MainlandRedlands Wildlife Rescue07 3833 4031
MainlandWildcare Emergency Hotline07 5527 2444
MainlandWildlife SEQ Inc0468 484 994
*Specialist Wildlife Orgs*
BAT RESCUEBCRQ Bat Phone0488 228 134
TURTLE RESCUEDept Env & Science Qld Gov1300 130 372
SeaworldMarine Animal Rescue (9-5)07 5588 2222
SeaworldMarine Animal Rescue A/Hrs07 5588 2177
*Snake Removal*
Macleay SnakesMichael David07 3409 5278
Russell SnakesJasmine Martinez0479 013 480
Russell SnakesTrish Harris0417 049 853
*Veterinarians*
MacleayBay Islands Vet Service07 3409 4962
RussellRussell Island Vets07 3207 7325
Home VisitVetCare2U1300 164 948
Redland BayVeterinary Happiness 07 3206 7911
*Pet Transport*
Pet TransportManly Rd Vet Keith/Michael0407 771 330

Report Injured Wildlife…

If you have seen injured or killed wildlife, please use your QR Code scanning app (quite possibly just your Camera app on Android and iOS devices) to scan the QR Code on the right or click on this link to access the Form to report this so we can build up data on the locations and types of wildlife injuries across SMBI. Without data, it will be extremely unlikely to government support for our precious wildlife.

If the animal(s) are still alive, please call a vet or wildlife carer first to have the injured wildlife assisted as best as possible.


Interested in Wildlife Care?

If you are interested in volunteering for wildlife care, feel free to contact us. There are always openings, and training is offered in various locations around South East Queensland.

To find out more, first have a read of the Queensland Government, Department of Environment a Science Rescue and rehabilitation site.

All people rescuing and caring for wildlife in Queensland should have a read of Code of Practice—Care of sick, injured or orphaned protected animals in Queensland to ensure they are working within the bounds of the Law and to ensure safety of all involved, including the animal(s).

For most species of protected animals you must, within 72 hours, notify a conservation officer who is an officer of the department that you have taken possession of the animal, unless you give it to a veterinary surgeon or licensed wildlife carer.

I’m Interested


Please let me know more about what’s needed to be able to care for our SMBI wildlife.