By MELISSA MEEHAN
THREE lyrebirds have been found dead in the Dandenong Ranges National Park at Sherbrooke in the past few months.
Each had been maimed and hurt so badly they were left to die.
Residents Kathryn Nauta, Bill Uhe, and Janet and David Wilson said they believed that the birds had been attacked by domestic cats which had been allowed to roam free in the park.
“We’re not slamming cat owners, there are cat owners in neighbouring properties who fence their properties,” Ms Nauta said.
“We’re just concerned that the cat curfew doesn’t protect these birds or other wildlife during the day.”
Ms Natua is a member of the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group and said the lyrebird population in the park had grown from just 60 to more than 200 since the early 1990s.
“There were a lot of attacks back then, so the Sherbrooke Council at the time decided to have a by-law that said anyone who lived near the national park needed to confine their pets 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said.
“But it seems like those by-laws have changed, and we’re worried three deaths could turn into more.”
Mr Wilson said that he had personally seen a number of cats wander through his property and said off lead dogs in the park were another problem.
“The dogs bark at the birds and scare them, but the cats are much more predatory,” Mr Wilson said.
“There have been three attacks recently, we even buried one and it had a swollen foot with bite marks on it.
“It’s well known that cat bites get infected easily.”
All four agreed, they had nothing against cat owners, but the reason they chose to live in Sherbrooke was to be close to the national park and all its beauty.
“This is why we live here,” Ms Natua said.
“I often have lyrebirds walking through my property, drinking from the garden.
“We love the area, the local wildlife – we don’t understand how someone can live here and not care about what their pets are doing to local birds.
“We think that the local laws should be reinstated that cats and dogs in the area are confined to properties at all times.
“We don’t want to see the population disappear again.”
The Yarra Ranges Council is currently consulting with the community about its cat curfew and off lead local laws.
Those who want to have their say are urged to go to www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Council/Public_Notices_Consultation/Have_Your_Say_-_Cats_Dogs.
