Dogs & Wildlife

The City of Burnside is home to hundreds of species of native wildlife, from iconic koalas and kookaburras, to beautiful fairy-wrens and pardalotes. Some species are common, like magpies and rainbow lorikeets, while others are Threatened, like bandicoots and antechinus. These animals help make Burnside feel like Burnside: the singing magpie and the colourful lorikeet, the koala nestled in a tree, or the glimpse of a bandicoot along a creek.  So it is important that we protect this natural heritage.

Dogs and wildlife don't mix

Dog attacks are one of the biggest threats to many wildlife species. The presence of dogs is also known to disturb and stress birds, mammals and reptiles. Therefore, it is important that we are all responsible with pet dogs. When walking a dog, it is vital to keep the dog under effective control. If it is necessary to maintain control, the dog should be kept on a lead.

Some wildlife can bite, sting or scratch dogs if they are attacked. Koalas and possums can inflict nasty scratches. Snakes can bite dogs and European bees can sting them. Keeping a dog on a lead protects wildlife and also your dog.

Dogs are permitted to be off leash in most Council parks and reserves. However, for the protection of wildlife, Council has resolved that dogs are required to be on lead in the following sensitive areas:

• Chambers Gully Reserve.
• Heatherbank Reserve.
• Michael Perry Reserve.
• The wetland area at Kensington Gardens Reserve/Kensington Wama.

Keeping dogs on lead in sensitive reserves with high biodiversity value will minimise the risk of dogs attacking or stressing wildlife.

Further details are available on Council's On Lead & Off Lead Areas webpage.