​A few months ago someone left some "doona" samples in my donation bin. We didn't know what we could do with them but knew that we could find some way to make them into something that could help wildlife. Then a few months ago while we were at Coopers Animal Refuge, we saw that Christine had thick, puffy pouches for her pinkies. We asked her about the doona samples and she said they would be amazing if they were just covered in fleece and made into a pouch. So we tried it for her. She loved them but we needed to make one change to it to make sure it would survive a washing machine. Last week, we found 3 more of the samples when were were cleaning out the garage and made them into pouches.

Find Krysti- https://www.facebook.com/Rescue-Rehabilitate-Release-1268828089820048

Coopers Animal Refuge- https://www.facebook.com/groups/447935942004477

Its not spring but as you can see- there are babies around! Our local mobs has LOTS of babies in pouches- LOTS!!!

This here is a mum with her little "velvet" joey poking its head out of the pouch. 
"Velvet" describes the stage (age) of a joey kangaroo.
When they are first born they have no hair. When the joey is first born it weighs under a gram and is as tiny as 15 millimetres, very much like a small, pink jellybean. 
Within a couple of months the joeys grow but also, start to grow their hair. Its smooth, fine and like velvet and why at this stage, they are called a "velvet".  At this age this joey would not be getting out of the pouch. It would maybe be chewing on some grass as mum bends down to graze but that's about it. Today the winter sun was a little warm and the mob came together to graze together. ​

As you can see in these photos that my mum took- this joey is at the "velvet" stage. It would be so soft and smooth. Isn't this just the most adorable thing!!

THIS shows why you must ALWAYS- STOP- CHECK AND/OR CALL if you hit wildlife or see one hit. They may be carrying beautiful babies just like this one that CAN survive the impact of a car strike. 

Two weeks ago my mum write emails to lots of important people about the kangaroos that were being killed on a local road. Its a busy road with paddocks running along it. We are very lucky to have kangaroos in these paddocks and more lucky, that in a year we don't get that many hit by cars on this road. BUT- roadworks have started on another major road and they have taken some of the habitat of a mob of kangaroos. This is making those kangaroos move into different areas to find food and safety and onto this road now. ​

Mum and I made some temporary signs and put them up along the road. Lots of people commented on our local community social media pages which was great. People were seeing the signs and talking about kangaroos being along this road. ​

When my mum wrote her letter we had 8 kangaroos hit- 7 killed and one known to be hit but not found, in less than 8 weeks. This is crazy. She pleaded with the people that she emailed to install kangaroo signs along this road.

My mum emailed our local MP, local council, Vic Roads and local councillor. Within a couple of days we heard from our local MP that she spoke about this in parliament. She advised that signs would go up. We were really happy.  Then last week, Vic Roads called my mum to tell her the same "great" news. 

TODAY IT HAPPENED!!!
My mum was so happy to see the signs go up when she was coming along to check on the roos (there was another killed overnight and possibly a few more not seen from the road). But there was a problem- two of the signs were in the wrong spots. They pointed to be cautious of kangaroos ahead- when there were none. It was at the end of the road as you drove out of it. Luckily- a man from Vic Roads called her to check with her about her preferred locations and she mentioned this. He was still in the area and asked to meet with her to discuss it. It was a FANTASTIC meeting! My mum got to speak with two people from Vic Roads face to face and show them how two signs that they had installed, really did nothing. She asked that they be moved into the "windy mile" to remind people throughout this road of the potential dangers. They agreed that that is how they would be best used.  Then they spoke of two other signs going up on the road that is having all the road works- my mum never asked for signs on this road. Its not a stretch known for kangaroo strikes. She pointed out that another road just behind where they were standing was very well known for kangaroo strikes. She didn't have "facts" on them but people were commenting on social media about this being a hot spot. She said how great it would be if two signs could go up on that road and guess what- THEY DID!

Today we now have FOUR signs on two major "kangaroo" roads leading into Diamond Creek. I am so proud of my mum and so happy that we could do this for our kangaroos.

These signs mean a few things-

• 1. There is likely to be wildlife in the area.
  Maybe not just kangaroos but wildlife in general. 
• 2. Drive with caution between dusk and dawn
  This is when most of our wildlife are most active.
  ​During the night they feed and roam and are most likely to cross roads. 
  The kangaroos on these roads have been very active between dusk and 9AM. Just taking a little off your speed can help. It will increase your reaction time and reduce the impact to the kangaroo AND your car! The can do lots of damage to your car and maybe even cause human death. So its best to drive with care when you see these signs along the roads. 
  

Its raining
Its pouring
the wildlife aren't snoring!
They are eating and seem to be loving it. I love how shaggy their coats are- ready for winter.
​

We are very lucky to live with some beautiful wildlife around Diamond Creek, Victoria. Here is the sun setting on a paddock around the corner that we like to go and take photos at. There are lots of kangaroos in these paddocks. 

We were even lucky enough to see some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. They are just coming back to our area after not seeing them for a few years. They were really loud eating these "nut" type things off this tree. 

There are lots of big male kangaroo's in the mobs near us. They are GIGANTIC! 

We have lots of birds around too. I love this picture my mum took of this Rosella. The colours are amazing. 

Look at this mum's pouch! Its bursting and oh so cute. I don't know how she is comfortable. 
Mum kangaroos are very loving and patient.

We drive past these paddocks of cows nearly every day. There are lots of calves.
​They share their paddocks with our mobs of kangaroos.

These two little cows make me laugh- they are so adorable. I hope Monique made a wish lol

Sunset and moon rise- a beautiful time of day but the start of the dangerous time for our wildlife.
STAY ALERT ON THE ROADS between DUSK til 9am.

Happy World environment day!
Today (June 5th) is World Environment Day. It is a day to bring awareness to ways we can help our environment. There's a lot of people talking about single use plastic (which I'm passionate about) but what I want to talk about planting trees and saving forests. Without trees we don't have a healthy environment, without a healthy environment humans and wildlife will suffer.
We cut down forests to make paper, toilet paper and tissues. When we do this animals loose their habitat. It forces them on to roads and into suburbia, looking for food and new homes. They get hit by cars, attacked by dogs and die from starvation.
We also don't use Reflex Ultra White copy paper because we know it comes from mountain ash trees in our Central Highlands of Victoria (less than an hour from our home). So be sure to also think about the paper you, your work or your school uses. EVERY bit we use from recycled or sustainable materials WILL make a difference and WILL save trees.
If you can plant trees- be sure to find out what wildlife is in the area and what trees can help them. This is me at the You Yangs in Victoria last year where I helped Koala Clancy plant more than 2,000 trees for future koala habitat.

​So before you next buy toilet paper or tissues why not give recycled a go?
Don't blow your nose or wipe your bum with a tree!! I don't!