SWIMMING
POOLS
Many
native animals lose their lives in swimming pools. This can easily
be avoided by draping a rope in to the pool so the animal can climb
out. All native animals can swim, but will soon become exhausted
and drown if they have no avenue of escape.
WATER TANKS
It
can be very distressing by the time you realise you have had a native
animal in your water tank, as usual it is when the water is contaminated.
To
make sure this does not happen, check your inlets regularly, to
ensure inlets are covered with adequate wire.
Animals
will access the tanks for water, but will of course be unable to
exit.
CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
As
the cooler weather approaches, please check chimneys before lighting
the fire in your fire place.
Also it is a good idea to cover the flue opening on the roof with
wire, to stop a native animal investigating.
A
native animal may have taken shelter in the chimney, looking so
much like a hollow log, Possums, Gliders, and many bird species
use hollow logs as homes.
Bush
fires, cutting down of old trees that often have hollow limbs, are
all contributing to native animals seeking shelter in unusual places.
SNAIL BAIT& INSECT
SPRAYS
Snail
bait does not only kill snails, it will kill anything that eats
it, including your dog or cat, if you do have to use it, please
make sure it is done in a responsible manner.
Often
problems such as too many snails in the garden is a result of the
ecosystem breaking down, you can change this with very little effort.
If
you have been using sprays, baits or any other form of poison in
your garden, you have most definitely upset the natural balance,
STOP using any form of poison. Create a site for compost in a part
of the garden if possible, here you can put all garden, kitchen
waste, even cardboard and old newspapers. You will find that is
a very short time not only will you have great soil, but you will
also have birds coming to investigate your compost digging through
looking for worms and bugs. The birds will also take care of insects
and pests in the garden, you will have a balance back of insects
that will now take care of unwanted bugs etc. It may take a season,
but it is well worth the effort, and also great watching nature
at its best.