CSIRO Publishing 2024 208 pages Paperback ($40) and eBook ($40) Available from CSIRO Publishing and other retailers

I feel lucky to have the joy of living alongside wildlife, but it does bring some annoyances. I’ve had possums weeing through the light fitting, antechinus eating through packages on the kitchen bench and a python dropping out of a ceiling gap to try and taste a new pet kitten. Well, those are some of my experiences living on a bushland property. Many Land for Wildlife members face similar problems when there is an overlap of our homes and the homes of wild animals.

In Living with Wildlife, ecologist Tanya Loos explores commonly asked questions and issues about encounters with wildlife. She offers practical advice and solutions that are wildlife-friendly and based on evidence from wildlife carers, recent research and are fact-checked by other wildlife experts.

At 190 pages with colour photos and illustrations, this guide is comprehensive in its coverage of common issues from the east coast. It covers encounters with venomous snakes, living with spiders, microbats inside houses and how to help baby birds that have fallen from nests. It also covers more complex issues such as control options for pest rodents without using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, which can be fatal to owls and other predators that eat poisoned rodents.

Some of the wildlife ‘problems’ are not relevant to those here in SEQ such as cassowary visits or wombats digging under your house. Surprisingly, this book omits conflicts with the notorious Brush Turkey, but the chapter on possum-proofing your garden provides relevant advice.

Of particular value are the sections on feeding wildlife, responsible pet ownership, taking care when driving and how to help wildlife in trouble and in extreme weather events. I recommend this book to all seeking a peaceful co-existence with wildlife. To all those who don’t slow down when driving through wildlife areas I say: may your chooks turn to Emus and kick your dunny doors down!

Review by Fflur Collier
Land for Wildlife Officer
Brisbane City Council

View Full Newsletter

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *