Wildlife Road Signs

HAPPY! EXCITED! PROUD! ECSTATIC! CELEBRATE!  

calling them Mob 1 and mob 2 is just how we are showing how the kangaroos are moving. There are lots of kangaroos in this area- more than 2 mobs.

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.

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Now...... Do you know what these signs actually mean?

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. 
  

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Diamond Creek Road- Diamond Creek VIC
​Also called the "windy mile"

you can see our sign behind the new reflective one

Ryans Road- Diamond Creek VIC

Final safety message-