Koalas in the Macedon Ranges

Based in Woodend in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, The Wildlings is an independent wildlife shelter providing rescue and rehabilitation for injured, orphaned and displaced native wildlife, with koalas forming a significant part of the work we do.

Across the Macedon Ranges, koalas live alongside us — often much closer than people realise. They move through bushland, roadsides, farms and private properties, and increasingly have to navigate roads, fencing, dogs and expanding development.

For us, they aren’t just numbers or sightings on a map. They’re individual animals we meet at some of the worst moments of their lives — and, when we’re lucky, get to watch return to the wild.

Koala rescue in the Macedon Ranges

Both Karl and Mel respond to koalas needing assistance throughout the Macedon Ranges and surrounding areas.

Some are victims of roadstrike. Others are injured, unwell or caught in unsafe situations. During breeding and dispersal season, we also see young koalas navigating unfamiliar territory as they leave their mothers and establish themselves in the landscape.

Not every koala seen near a road or on the ground needs to be rescued.

Koalas naturally come to ground to move between trees and habitat, and unnecessarily capturing or relocating a healthy koala can cause more harm than good. The important thing is recognising when something isn’t right and seeking advice when you’re unsure.

When does a koala need help?

Please seek assistance if you see a koala that:

• has been hit or clipped by a vehicle

• has been attacked by a dog or other animal

• is visibly bleeding or injured

• appears weak, collapsed or unusually unresponsive

• has obvious eye discharge or significant staining around its rump

• remains in an immediately dangerous location

• is a joey without its mother

• is behaving in a way that makes you concerned something may be wrong.

If a koala has been struck by a vehicle, please report it even if it gets up and moves away. Significant injuries aren’t always obvious from the roadside.

Please don’t attempt to capture or handle a koala yourself unless instructed by an experienced wildlife rescuer.

If you’re unsure, make the call. We’d much rather assess the situation and discover that an animal is okay.

Koalas and roadstrike

Roadstrike is one of the most confronting threats we see facing koalas locally.

The Macedon Ranges contains extensive koala habitat, but roads cut through much of that landscape. Koalas don’t understand road boundaries, speed limits or what approaching headlights mean.

During periods of increased movement, particularly breeding and dispersal season, we can see a devastating number of animals struck on local roads.

The Wildlings has been involved not only in responding to these incidents, but also in advocating for practical measures to reduce wildlife roadstrike across the Macedon Ranges.

Our aim isn’t to blame drivers. It’s to help people understand that slowing down and being particularly alert in known wildlife areas can make an enormous difference.

If you see a koala close to a busy road and believe it is in immediate danger, please report it.

Young koalas on the move

One of the most important times of year for our local koalas is dispersal.

Young koalas eventually have to leave mum and begin finding their own place in the world.

It’s a completely natural part of their lives — but in the modern Macedon Ranges landscape, it can also be incredibly challenging.

A dispersing koala may travel considerable distances and encounter roads, houses, dogs, fences and areas with limited tree cover along the way.

Seeing a young koala somewhere unexpected doesn’t automatically mean it needs to be removed. Sometimes the best thing we can do is give it space and allow it to continue moving.

If the animal appears injured, unwell or is in immediate danger, however, please seek advice.

Koala rehabilitation at The Wildlings

Rescue is only the beginning.

When a koala comes into care, rehabilitation can involve veterinary assessment and treatment, medication, monitoring, specialised housing and an enormous amount of fresh eucalyptus browse.

And we mean an enormous amount.

Browse has to be regularly collected and replaced, with individual koalas often having their own preferences for particular species and even particular leaves.

Our goal is always the same: where possible, to get that animal healthy, independent and back where it belongs.

Release is the part everyone loves seeing, but everything that happens quietly between rescue and release is what makes that moment possible.

Koala mums and joeys

Few things make us hold our breath quite like receiving a call involving a female koala with a joey.

When a mother is injured, there may be two lives depending on the outcome.

Joeys can also remain attached to or close to their mother following trauma, including roadstrike. This is one reason a deceased koala should never simply be assumed to have no life left to save.

If you find a deceased koala, particularly a female, please report her so an appropriately trained person can check for a joey.

Koala sightings matter

A healthy koala doesn’t need to be rescued — but knowing that it was there can still be valuable.

Individual sightings help build a clearer picture of where koalas are moving, where they are regularly crossing roads and where patterns may be developing over time.

That’s one of the reasons KoaLocator was created.

KoaLocator allows koala sightings to be recorded so that individual observations can contribute to a much bigger picture.

Living, injured and deceased koala sightings all provide information.

No sighting is insignificant.

Sharing the Macedon Ranges with koalas

We are incredibly fortunate to still share this part of Victoria with koalas.

Protecting them doesn’t always require a grand gesture.

Keep dogs securely contained, particularly at night. Be alert when driving through koala habitat. Slow down when wildlife is active. Consider wildlife movement when installing fencing. Keep an eye out for animals behaving unusually. Report injured wildlife. And record the healthy koalas you see as well.

Small actions across an entire community can have a huge impact.

About The Wildlings

The Wildlings Woodend Wildlife Shelter Inc. is an independent wildlife shelter based in Woodend in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria.

We rescue and rehabilitate injured, orphaned and displaced native wildlife, with koalas among the main species that come through our shelter.

Our work is volunteer-run, and the wildlife that arrives here often comes to us at its very worst.

The privilege is getting to see some of them leave again at their very best.

Found a koala that needs help?

If a koala is injured, has been struck by a vehicle or is in immediate danger, contact a wildlife rescue service as soon as possible.

Wildlife Victoria Emergency Response Service: 03 8400 7300

If it is safe to do so, keep sight of the animal from a distance until advice or assistance is available.

Please don’t chase, handle or attempt to relocate the koala yourself.

Found a koala that needs help?

If a koala is injured, has been struck by a vehicle or is in immediate danger, contact a wildlife rescue service as soon as possible.

Wildlife Victoria Emergency Response Service: 03 8400 7300