Kanagaroo's and Emu's, Perth

Unfortunately, Australian wildlife is not very clued up when it comes to road safety. While it is unlikely you will come across kangaroos in the city, keep a look out for them in outer suburbs where there is bushland (such as Wanneroo and along the Tonkin Highway) and in rural areas. The most dangerous times are dawn and dusk where you will have trouble seeing any animals that run onto the road and the wildlife is most active.

I asked my Kimberly-Traffic-Cop friend :) about what to do if a kangaroo does run in front of your car: first up, never swerve to avoid it. You run the risk of hitting other cars on the road or losing conrtol of your car, particularly on unsealed roads. Try to do an emergency stop (cop speak for break quickly and safely). Large kangaroos can significantly damage your car, even breaking your windscreen, but this is preferable to rolling your car into a tree or a ditch.

And finally, if you do hit an animal, and it is safe to do so, please pull over and check it out. A lot of kangaroos and other marsupials are killed by cars while the young in their pouches are unharmed. These poor creatures then starve to death on the side of the road. If you do find an alive baby, wrap it in a towel or old clothing and place it in a box if handy. Don't feed it or overhandle it, and take it to the nearest vet. Most vets will treat wildlife for free. Alternatively, contact CALM Wildcare (Government run phoneline for injured wildlife) or the RSPCA.

When driving either down south or north away from the city please be carefull of our wild life. They hava strange tendancy of heading towards your car lights espicially at dark, dusk and dawn. It would be wise not to be driving at this time anyway.

Kangaroos are a real danger that can absolutely demolish your car and even cause a serious accident.

It nearly happen to us near Pemberton.

The Roos
While driving, at any time of the day, but especially at dusk or dawn, slow down to increase your reaction time in case of meeting one to avoid hitting it. Sometime underestimated, those stupid kangooroos will even hit you instead of you hitting him. Once, I was driving around 6PM when I saw one hopping at angle in the same direction than me. You would think he would stop as I approach. No, he almost hit the side of my car.

Watch out for these big guys. They mug people.