Feeding native animals, like ducks, possums or wallabies, might seem kind, but it can do more harm than good. It changes their behaviour, spreads disease, and leads to poor nutrition. Even scraps like bread or fruit can cause illness or attract pests. Wildlife in Meander Valley are best left to forage naturally, just as they’ve always done.

The best thing we can offer is space, respect and a chance to stay wild.

Learn more about keeping our wildlife wild here.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
For injured or orphaned wildlife, call 0447 264 625 any time of the day or night.

For more information on Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, please visit their website.

Responsible dog and cat ownership plays a big role in protecting Meander Valley’s wildlife. Unrestrained pets can chase, injure or kill native animals, damage habitats and disturb nesting sites.

To help our local wildlife thrive:
• Keep dogs securely fenced and on-lead in public unless in a designated off-lead area
• Always pick up after your dog to protect waterways and public spaces
• Register and microchip your pets so they can be safely returned if lost
• Keep cats indoors or in outdoor enclosures, especially overnight when native species are most active

Being a responsible pet owner helps protect the wildlife that makes this place special.

Caring for your pets means caring for our wildlife. Discover how to be a responsible owner in Meander Valley here.

From the misty forests of Liffey Falls to the alpine edge of the Western Tiers, Meander Valley is home to some of Tasmania’s most delicate ecosystems. Stepping off track might seem harmless, but it can damage slow-growing plants, erode fragile soils, and spread diseases like root rot.

That’s why Tasmania Parks and Wildlife asks all walkers to stay on marked trails, even when they’re muddy, and avoid creating new paths or shortcuts.

Learn more about leaving no trace here.

To report roadkill on council owned roads please contact us through our website, send us an email at mail@mvc.tas.gov.au or via phone on 03 6393 5300.

To report roadkill on state highways and roads please call the Department of State Growth (Transport) on 1300 135 513.

Responsible ownership starts at home. To help protect our native waterfowl and waterways, domestic ducks and geese should always be kept safely confined to your property. A secure, well-maintained enclosure with clean water and regular waste management keeps your birds healthy and prevents them from wandering into nearby rivers, parks or reserves where they can cause harm to local wildlife.

To find out more on responsible livestock and poultry ownership in Meander Valley, head over to our Poultry & Livestock page.

Releasing domestic waterfowl into the wild might seem harmless, but it puts serious pressure on our native ducks. These birds compete for food, trample habitat and can breed with native species, risking the future of our native wildlife.

If you’ve seen someone dumping ducks or geese, please report it. You can contact council through our website, by email at mail@mvc.tas.gov.au or via phone on 03 6393 5300

Feeding waterfowl may feel kind, but it tips the balance. Introduced breeds – like geese and domestic mallards – are louder, larger, and pushier. They outcompete our quiet native ducks for space and food. Take away the food, and introduced birds are more likely to move on.

To help our native species thrive, resist the urge to feed. Instead, linger by the riverbank. Watch their gentle paddles, their soft dives, their hidden nests. Learn their names. Spot their colours. Let your curiosity be the gift you give.

With the vibrant Meander River running for over 112 kilometres through the heart of our valley, we’re home to an abundance of native waterfowl. Pacific Black Ducks, Australian Shelducks and Australian Wood Ducks are just some of the striking species that call the Meander River, its catchments and neighbouring waterways home.

Mallards and Pacific Black Ducks

When mallards are released or escape into the wild, they don’t just outcompete native ducks, they interbreed with them. The result is hybrid offspring, and over time, fewer and fewer pure Pacific Black Ducks remain. This process, called introgressive hybridisation, slowly erodes the unique traits that define our native duck.

The saddest part? It’s preventable.

Every time you choose not to feed feral ducks, report a hybrid sighting, or call out duck dumping, you’re giving our native species a fighting chance.

If you need help identifying if a duck is native, a domestic mallard or mallard hybrid, you can send a photo to Pacific Black Duck Conservation Group at pacificblackduck@landcaretas.org.au or see the Facebook group: Pacific Black Duck Conservation Group | Facebook

Information on living with ducks can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.