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Living with wildlife

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Explore the native birds and animals living near you. Find out about their behaviours and how we manage them.

Heart-shaped sign with a green background and white text conveying a 'protect our native birds and wildlife' message at a Green Heart Fair at Victoria Park.

About Brisbane's native animals

Brisbane is home to a wide range of native animals that all play an important role in maintaining biodiversity.

They can help to control pest insects and spread native vegetation.

All our native species have legal protection under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It’s a serious offence to harm them in any way.

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Important to note

While it may seem like a kind gesture, we strongly advise you don’t feed wild birds or animals.

Looking for something else?

Land for Wildlife program

Invasive species

Environmental protection

Snakes

Snakes help to control rodent populations and maintain the balance of different species. 

They’re a key part of our local ecosystems and contribute to the health and sustainability of our environment.  

Brisbane is home to 27 species of snake. The most common snakes here include the:

  • carpet python
  • common tree snake
  • keelback 
  • yellow-faced whip snake
  • white-crowned snake
  • eastern small-eyed snake.

Find out more about local snake species. 

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Some venomous snakes live in Brisbane. Of these species, the eastern brown snake is the most common.

 If you find a snake on your property:

  • if it’s inside your house, close your internal doors, open your external doors and give the snake a chance to leave 
  • if it’s in your backyard, block all potential entry points to your house
  • don't go near or interact with the snake 
  • call a snake catcher.  

If you encounter a snake on Council property, you should leave the snake alone and slowly move a safe distance away. Snakes will often escape if given the chance.

Swooping birds

Between July and December, some of Brisbane’s native birds may swoop to protect their nests, eggs or territory. This natural defensive behaviour usually lasts about 6 weeks.

The magpie is the most well-known swooping bird, but others include:

To keep the swooping bird population in natural balance, we: 

  • conduct regular assessments
  • install signage to warn people about swooping birds in the area
  • install covered bird-proof bins to reduce artificial food sources
  • preserve, protect and enhance local bushland
  • provide protection for smaller bird species
  • share wildlife information through brochures and events.

Follow these tips to stay safe:

  • if swooped, leave quickly but don’t run
  • watch the bird while walking away, as it’s less likely to swoop
  • never interfere with birds or nests 
  • avoid nesting areas during breeding season
  • wear a hat or carry an umbrella
  • wear glasses to protect your eyes.
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Bike riding tips

  • Add eyespots, a plastic face or cable ties to your helmet.
  • Dismount and walk (birds mainly react to movement).

Magpies

Magpies and swooping birds help control insect populations, disperse seeds and contribute to the health of their ecosystems.

Between July and December, some of these birds become defensive and swoop people who venture too close to their nesting site.

To protect yourself from magpies:

  • don’t feed them, or leave food scraps lying around
  • don’t disturb them when there are fledglings in the nest 
  • expect more swooping activity between June and December.
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If you find a magpie in need of care, please call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). 

Noisy miners

Noisy miners feed on nectar, fruit and insects and help pollinate native plants.

They impact local wildlife by displacing or excluding other native bird species.  

Noisy miners become louder, more active and aggressive from June to December.

If you live near noisy miners, you shouldn’t:

  • feed them
  • remove their nests or eggs
  • disturb the birds when there are fledglings in the nest.

Crows

Torresian crows prey on insects, small rats and mice in grasslands, woodlands and urban gardens. 

They also remove road-killed animals and disperse native vegetation seeds through their droppings. 

It’s important we conserve crows to maintain our local biodiversity. 

If you live near crows, you shouldn’t:

  • feed them or leave food scraps lying around
  • remove their nests or eggs
  • disturb the birds when there are fledglings in the nest.
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Note

You can expect more noise between August and February, while the birds nest and raise their young.

Nesting and fledgling birds

Breeding season for Brisbane’s native birds runs from July to December. During this time, parent birds are protective as their fledglings grow and learn to fly.

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Note

While it may seem helpful, trying to rescue fledglings that you believe to be injured can cause stress to both the young birds and their parents. This may also lead to defensive behaviors, such as swooping.

Most baby birds stay in the nest after hatching from late August to early October.

During this time, you can find fledglings on the ground as they start building strength to fly. Their parents are usually nearby to feed and protect them.

 Before interfering, check for signs of normal fledgling behaviour and characteristics. This includes:

  • flight feathers around the wings
  • making bird calls and lots of noise
  • flapping and spreading their wings
  • hopping on the ground
  • perching on a low branch.
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Note

Brush turkey chicks are not lost or orphaned. They are independent from hatching and should be left alone unless clearly injured or in immediate danger.

If you find a fledgling:

  • leave it alone unless it’s in danger
  • do not give it food or water
  • remove pets and other threats from the area
  • if the nest is missing, you can make a baby bird basket
  • if needed, gently move it under a bush or onto a low branch (parent birds will not reject it after human contact)
  •  watch from a distance to see if the parents return before dark.
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If bird parents don’t return within 24 hours, contact the RSPCA, a local vet or a wildlife carer.

Brush turkeys

Brush turkeys (also known as Bush turkeys) hunt insects in woodlands and gardens. This helps to maintain a healthy ecosystem. 

They also encourage native plant growth by dispersing seeds through their droppings.

Protecting brush turkeys helps maintain a diverse range of plants and animals, ensuring a balanced environment.

Male brush turkeys build nests in suburban backyards.

To deter brush turkeys from your backyard: 

  • don’t feed them
  • cover any compost 
  • use heavy coverings or chicken wire to prevent them raking the ground
  • use tree guards or small rocks around the base of plants to stop them digging them up
  • use tree guards or fencing to protect young plants and trees (ask your local nursery or landscape supplier for recommend products)
  • don’t chase, kill or injure the birds, their mounds or their eggs 
  • prune any vegetation above a turkey mound.

Ibis

The White Australian Ibis plays an important role in natural pest management by eating small insects and grubs. 

You’ll find them in swampy or water-covered grounds, grasslands, wetlands, parks, beaches, mudflats and urban areas.   

To keep ibis numbers at their natural level, we:

  • install ibis-proof litter bins throughout the city
  • put signs in public eating areas discouraging people from feeding them
  • implement bird management programs in problem urban areas
  • work with neighbouring councils to manage them.

To help reduce ibis numbers at your property:

  • don’t feed them or leave scraps lying around
  • remove weedy vines from trees as these may provide support for nests.

Possums

Possums help maintain biodiversity through seed dispersal, insect control and pollination. 

To manage possums, Council protects and restores habitats on public land so the animals have somewhere safe to live.

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Human food can be dangerous to possums, so we strongly advise you don’t feed them.

To prevent possums getting into your home, stuff paper into the places where you suspect the possum is getting in during the day. 

After dark, the possum will push its way out, showing you where it gets in and out.

You can then:

  • make repairs to prevent them getting in again 
  • use disinfectant to destroy the smell
  • hang wooden nesting boxes or hollow logs in trees nearby to give the possums new homes.

For possum removal, contact a licensed pest controller near you.

Flying-foxes

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Did you know?

Australia’s native flying-foxes are the largest flying mammals in the world.

Flying-foxes play an important role in the reproduction, regeneration and dispersal of plants across our region. 

There are 3 species of flying-fox in Brisbane, including the:

  • Black Flying-fox 
  • Little Red Flying-fox
  • Grey-headed Flying-fox. 

To manage flying-foxes, we: 

  • monitor populations in roosts across Brisbane
  • manage their camps to minimise impacts on public land and residents
  • educate residents about flying-fox behaviour and how to live with them
  • install warning signs in areas affected by flying-foxes

To find out more, read our  Wildlife Conservation Action Statement for flying-foxes and Council's Statement of Management Intent.

If you live close to a large number of flying-foxes:

  • don't leave your washing out at night
  • cover your vehicles
  • cover outdoor furniture at night 
  • don’t disturb them - they are quiet when left alone
  • use a pool cover at night.
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Don’t attempt to catch flying-foxes. It’s unlawful and risky. They may injure you if you distress them. If you find a flying-fox in need of care, please call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). 

Frequently asked questions

We don’t recommend you feed native wildlife in Brisbane. 

Giving wild birds and animals extra food may have harmful side effects and could impact their survival. 

Other reasons not to feed wildlife include:

  • wildlife may start to depend on humans for food 
  • feeding dangerous or venomous wildlife is against the law and can lead to serious injury
  • providing extra food can stimulate breeding and lead to an unbalanced ecosystem
  • pest animals and vermin may benefit from additional food sources.

If you find a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal, call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).

For more information about Brisbane wildlife, you can:

If you spot an animal you believe is a feral animal or an invasive species, you can report it to us using our feral animal sighting form.