Water-holding Frog

Cyclorana platycephala or the Water-holding Frog

This species is a member of a group of burrowing frogs. The water-holding frog occurs in a wide range of habitats from coastal floodplains, wet scrub and forests, woodlands and grasslands. During the dry season, these frogs remain in a burrow in the soil. The summer rains wake these animals from their sleep and allows them to breed and feed. During this time they shelter under rocks or vegetation by day, and are active by night. Because the wet season lasts for only a few months, the Water-holding Frog must breed quickly and then eat enough prey (such as insects and worms) to restore their energy sources for the next dry season.

To help them conserve water when buried, the Water-holding Frog sheds the outer layer of their skin to form a water-tight cocoon around their body. Their round bodies (Cyclorana means 'round frog') serves to reduce their surface area, which also helps them reduce water lost through evaporation. Because of these unique adaptations, water-holding frogs can survive buried underground for years, only emerging when conditions are right. The tadpoles of this species are large, fast growing and very competitive. This helps ensure that only the strongest tadpoles survive to become adults.

Did you know...

• This species is a member of a group of burrowing frogs. During the dry season, these frogs remain buried in the soil; they only emerge after rain.
• To help them conserve water when buried, the Water-holding Frog sheds the outer layer of their skin to form a water-tight cocoon around their body.
• Their round bodies (Cyclorana means 'round frog') serves to reduce their surface area, which also helps them reduce water lost through evaporation.
• Because of these unique adaptations, water-holding frogs can survive buried underground for years, only emerging when conditions are right.

Range of Water-holding Frogs across Australia:

Water-holding Frog

Brown Tree Snake

Boiga irregularis or the Brown Tree Snake

The brown tree snake is a nocturnal (night time) hunter, with its big, beautiful cat-like eyes giving it excellent vision.  These eyes are also the reason its also called a night tiger or doll's eye snake.  The brown tree snake has a very slender body that can reach 2 metres in length, though on average they grow to about 1.4 metres in length. The brown tree snake is a rear-fanged venomous snake. The venom is very weak,  with bites normally resulting in nothing more than a headache.  Because of its brown colour this animal is often confused with dangerously venomous snakes.

They hunt for a variety of foods, including lizards, frogs, and birds.  Hunting at night allows the snake to catch dragon lizards as they sleep on thin tree branches. The brown tree snake is an egg layer, producing from 4 to 10 eggs. It is the brown tree snake that has become a feral pest on the island of Guam.  After hitching rides with the Airforce cargo planes during the 2nd World War, these snakes found the climate and food to their liking.  The brown tree snake has bred up to such numbers that they have all but wiped out most species of bird on the Island.

Did you know...

• The brown tree snake is a nocturnal (night time) hunter, with its big, beautiful cat-like eyes giving it excellent vision.
• The brown tree snake is a rear-fanged venomous snake.
• The venom is very weak, with bites normally resulting in nothing more than a headache.
• Australia has its fair share of feral animals (such as cane toads and rabbits), but did you know that some of our native animals have become pests overseas?
• Brown tree snakes are a major pest on the island of Guam. After hitching a ride in US Airforce cargo planes during the 2nd World War, the snakes found the climate and food to their liking.

Where to find Brown Tree Snakes in Australia:

Brown Tree Snake

Pig-nosed Turtle

Carettochelys insculpta or the Pig-nosed Turtle

A fascinating creature to behold, the pig-nosed turtle is found only in Papua New Guinea and the Northern Territory. It was described in New Guinea about 110 years ago, but wasn't reported from Australia until about 1970. Their pig-like nose is used as a snorkel during the dry season, when rivers become small mud puddles. The pig-nosed turtle can have its body buried in the mud, with just the end of its nose exposed to breathe with. As adults, they can have a shell length of about 75 cm.

They are unique among Australian freshwater turtles for many reasons. For example, they can't pull their head into their shell sideways - they pull it straight back into the shell in the same way a sea turtle would. The pig-nosed turtle is a very aquatic species, with flippers rather than webbed feet. In the wild, pig-nosed turtles feed on fallen fruit, small fish, crustaceans, and water plants. Female pignosed turtles can lay up to 22 large eggs, which will develop fully in about 70 days. The unhatched babies will then wait until the next flood, and emerge from the nest at night.

Did you know...

• The pig-nosed is found only in Papua New Guinea and the Northern Territory. It was described in New Guinea about 110 years ago, but wasn't reported from Australia until about 1970.
• Their pig-like nose is used as a snorkel during the dry season. The pig-nosed turtle can have its body buried in the mud, with just the end of its nose exposed to breathe with.
• They are unique among Australian freshwater turtles for many reasons. For example, they can't pull their head into their shell sideways - they pull it straight back into the shell in the same way a sea turtle would.
• The pig-nosed turtle is a very aquatic species, with flippers rather than webbed feet.

Where Pig-nosed Turtles dwell in Australia:

Pig-nosed Turtle

Freshwater Crocodile

Crocodylus johnsoni or the Freshwater Crocodile

The freshwater crocodile is the smaller of the two crocodile species found in Australia. Males reach a maximum length of about 3 metres, while the females grow to about 1.5 metres. In the wild the freshwater crocodile is a relatively shy animal that feeds primarily on fish. The snout of this crocodile is long and smooth, compared to the wide, rugged snout of the saltwater crocodile. Crocodiles can easily be called living dinosaurs. With a perfectly evolved body for long life with little need of exertion or food, crocodiles, now that they are protected, should be around for another million years or so.

From August to September females dig nests in the open sandy areas approximately 10 metres from the water, in which they will lay about 12 eggs. After some 90 days the babies begin to hatch. The cries of the baby crocodiles will prompt the mother, or another female close by, to excavate the nest, setting the babies free. Just like the saltwater crocodile, the freshwater crocodile will carry its young to the water. Groups of juvenile freshwater crocodiles form creches that are attended by adult female crocodiles.

Did you know...

• The freshwater crocodile is the smaller of the two crocodile species found in Australia. Males reach a maximum length of about 3 metres, while the females grow to about 1.5 metres.
• In the wild the freshwater crocodile is a relatively shy animal that feeds primarily on fish.
• Crocodiles can easily be called 'living dinosaurs', with fossil crocodiles dating back hundreds of millions of years.
• There's a belief that crocodiles haven't changed much over this time, but nothing could be further from the truth. Millions of years ago, there were many more species of crocodiles, ranging from sea-dwellers through to tree-climbing crocs!

Where Freswater Crocodiles can be found in Australia:

Did you know... The freshwater crocodile is the smaller of the two crocodile species found in Australia. Males reach a maximum length of about 3 metres, while the females grow to about 1.5 metres.

In the wild the freshwater crocodile is a relatively shy animal that feeds primarily on fish. Crocodiles can easily be called 'living dinosaurs', with fossil crocodiles dating back hundreds of millions of years.

There's a belief that crocodiles haven't changed much over this time, but nothing could be further from the truth. Millions of years ago, there were many more species of crocodiles, ranging from sea-dwellers through to treeclimbing crocs!

Freshwater Crocodile

Woma Python

Aspidites ramsayi or the Woma Python

The woma is one of two Australian pythons that don't have heat pits (the other being the black-headed python). The woma lives in the sandy deserts and adjacent areas of all Australian States, except Victoria and Tasmania. In some parts the woma is referred to as the sand python. Burrows provide womas with both shelter and food. The woma will utilise burrows, including those of rabbits, to escape the scorching summer day time heat, and for shelter from the cold desert winters. They will scoop sand aside with their head to form a large depression in which to fit their coiled body for resting.

When a potential prey item is found in a burrow the woma will slam it into a corner with an uncoiled loop of its body to suffocate it.  Unlike other snakes, the woma python likes to feed on a variety of animals including many species of reptile. This predilection for cold-blooded prey includes venomous snakes. Whilst feeding on venomous snakes this python may receive bites from its prey item.

The chemical make up of the woma makes venoms that kill humans in a relatively short time useless against this animal.

Womas lays their eggs during spring. Despite the large size of the adult snake, only a few eggs (about eight) are laid.

Did you know...

• In some parts of the country, the woma python is referred to as the sand python.
• Womas lays their eggs during spring. Despite the large size of the adult snake, only a few eggs (about eight) are laid.
• Burrows provide womas with both shelter and food. The woma will utilise burrows, including those of rabbits, to escape the scorching summer day time heat, and for shelter from the cold desert winters.
• When a potential prey item is found in a burrow, the woma python will slam it into a corner with an uncoiled loop of its body to suffocate it.

Where the Woma Python can be found in Australia:

Woma Python

Frill-necked Dragon

Chlamydosaurus kingii or the Frill-necked Dragon

The frill-necked dragon is often confused with the bearded dragon. It is an unfortunate fact of life that this iconic Australian animal is struggling for appropriate habitat in which to live in south east Queensland. At one time these animals were found in many suburbs around Brisbane. Urban development, loss of trees, pesticides, and domestic animals have confined these lizards to living within small pockets of suitable habitat.

The frill-necked dragon is found in dry sclerophyll forest throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the top end of Western Australia.

These arboreal lizards become quite active after rain, descending to the ground to look for food in the form of insects. After rain in the summer months, female frill necks start digging burrows at the base of trees in which to lay their eggs. The recent rains provide ground that is softened for easier digging, and moisture that will help the eggs develop.

The main function of the frill is thermoregulation. The flap of skin is rich with blood vessels, which, when opened on a hot day, will help to quickly cool the lizard. During winter an open frill will give a large surface area for the sun to warm the blood and increase the ambient body temperature of the animal. Although the frillnecked dragon is Australia's longest dragon, it is better known for its running style. When frightened it will run upright on its hind legs until a tree can be climbed.

Did you know...

• The bearded dragon found around Brisbane is often incorrectly called a 'frillie' or frill-necked dragon. The lizard you see on display here is the true frill-necked dragon.
• This iconic Australian animal was once common around Brisbane, but development has pushed it further afield.
• The frill that gives this lizard its name serves two main functions. It can be used to frighten away attackers. It can also be used to soak up warmth from the sun.
• This lizard is well known for its running style. When frightened it will run upright on its hind legs until a tree can be climbed.

Where Frillies are found in Australia:

Frill-necked Dragon

Black-Headed Python

Aspidites melanocephalus or the Black-Headed Python

The stunning black head of this animal is its most valuable asset. A black-headed python is able to warm its entire body by exposing only its head to the sun.  As the blood heats up it is quickly shunted to the rest of the animal hidden under rocks or logs. The Black-headed python also uses its head as a shovel, digging under rocks and venturing into small burrows to find food.  A major part of this animal's diet is made up of reptiles.  It is thought that because of these two factors the black-headed python has evolved without heat pits, which can be found on all other Australian pythons, except the closely related woma python.

Unlike most other reptiles the black-headed python consumes a wide range of venomous snakes.  It is not understood how the bites of these animals do not affect this particular python. The bands on their body help them blend into the shadows when venturing out for food.

The black-headed python is found in the arid parts of Australia, from the Tropic of Capricorn through to Rockhampton and North across Australia.

Did you know...

• A black-headed python is able to warm its entire body by exposing only its head to the sun. As the blood heats up it is quickly shunted to the rest of the animal hidden under rocks or logs.
• The bands on their body help them blend into the shadows when venturing out for food.
• Unlike most other reptiles, the black-headed python consumes a wide range of venomous snakes. It is not understood how the bites of these animals do not affect this particular python.
• The black-headed python is found in the arid parts of Australia, from the Tropic of Capricorn through to Rockhampton and North across Australia.

Where to find the Black-Headed Python in Australia:

Black-Headed Python

Stimson's Python

Antaresia stimsoni or Stimson's Python

Stimson's Python is a small snake only reaching about a meter in length. As a python, they are non-venomous.

Spotted pythons occur in dry inland areas, from the coast of Western Australia through the country to west of the Great Dividing Range, preferring to live in areas with rocky outcrops. They come out at night to feed on small lizards, frogs and mammals.

The female Stimson's python lays clutches of 7-9 eggs, which the female will incubate (a typical python behaviour). Incubation should last for about 50 days but may change depending on the temperature.

Did you know...

• These small pythons only reach about a meter in length.
• Stimson's python comes out at night to feed on small lizards, frogs and mammals.
• As a python, they are non-venomous.
• Female Stimson's pythons lay clutches of 7-9 eggs, which the female will incubate (a typical python behaviour).
• Incubation should last for about 50 days but may change depending on the temperature.

Where Stimson's Python can be found in Australia:

Stimson's Python

Spotted Python

Antaresia maculosa or the Spotted Python

The spotted python is a small species of non-venomous python. They can reach around a meter long and up to 1.4 m. As a python, they strangle their prey, which may consist of small mammals, including bats, small birds and some lizards. Spotted pythons like to hang out in rock crevices, caves and sometimes tree hollows.

Although they prefer rocky areas, they can be found in most types of habitat.

The female spotted python lays four to 16 eggs at a time. She will coil around the eggs to warm them by shivering her body. Even though she is cold-blooded, in this way she can raise her body temperature above the surrounding air temperature. Pretty clever lady!

Did you know...

• The spotted python is a small species of non-venomous python, growing up to just over 1 metre.
• As a python, they strangle (not crush) their prey, which may consist of small mammals, including bats, small birds and some lizards.
• Female spotted pythons will lay four to 16 eggs at a time.
• She will coil around the eggs to warm them by shivering her body.
• Even though she is cold-blooded, in this way she can raise her body temperature above the surrounding air temperature.

Where to find Spotted Pythons in Australia:

Spotted Python

Children's Python

Antaresia childreni or the Children's Python

The Children's python is one of the smallest pythons in Australia, reaching a maximum length of about 1 metre. They get the name Children's python not because they eat children, or because they make great children's pets, but from an English naturalist by the name of John Children. The Children's Python is usually found on the ground, utilising rocks, logs or animal burrows for shelter.  They feed on small rodents, birds and lizards.  Children's pythons will often climb to the roof of caves and snatch out of midair bats that are leaving for their night time feed. The Children's python is naturally a very placid snake. For this reason, and its compact size, it is a popular pet. The Children's python is an egg- laying species, as are all pythons.

A female will lay up to 20 eggs and then wrap her body around these eggs and regulate their temperature.  If the temperature of the eggs feels a little warm she will loosen the coils of her body to allow the air to circulate. If the eggs feel a little cool the female python will shiver to increase the temperature up to 6 degrees Celcius above air temperature.  The temperature that the female python will aim to keep her eggs at is 30 degrees Celcius.  Once the eggs begin to hatch the female feels her job is complete and leaves.

Did you know...

• Children's pythons get their name not because they eat children, or because they make great children's pets, but from an English naturalist by the name of John Children.
• Children's pythons will often climb to the roof of caves and snatch out of midair bats that are leaving for their night time feed.
• The Children's python is naturally a very placid snake. For this reason, and its compact size, it is a popular pet.
• A female will lay up to 20 eggs and then wrap her body around these eggs to help protect them and regulate their temperature.

Where Children's Pythons are found in Australia:

Children's Python

Arafura File Snake

Acrochordus arafurae or the Arafura File Snake

The Arafura file snake inhabits the lowland freshwater systems of northern Australia and New Guinea. As a non-venomous snake they kill their food (mainly fish) by constriction, much like land-dwelling pythons.  The skin of the file snake is very coarse (hence the name 'file snake'), which enables it to grip the slippery fish it preys on. While quite agile in the water, file snakes are awkward movers on land. Despite this, they can travel for hundreds of metres when necessary.

Arafura File Snake has a remarkably low rate of food intake, but the food that is eaten is digested with great efficiency. It's thought that the scales of the file snake's skin contains sensory organs that help the snakes to find their prey. The file snake is sexually dimorphic, with females generally being much larger, reaching up to 2.5 metres in length.  The males grow to about 1.5 metres long. Female file snakes give birth to up to 27 babies every two or three years.

Did you know...

• The Arafura file snake inhabits the lowland freshwater systems of northern Australia and New Guinea.
• The skin of the file snake is very coarse (hence the name 'File Snake'), which enables it to grip the slippery fish it preys on.
• File snakes have a remarkably low rate of food intake, but the food that is eaten is digested with great efficiency.
• While quite agile in the water, file snakes are awkward movers on land. Despite this, they can travel for hundreds of metres when necessary.

Where File Snakes are found in Australia:

Arafura File Snake

Common Death Adder

Acanthophis antarcticus or the Death Adder

The death adder is a nocturnal venomous snake. Unlike most snakes, the death adder hunts only by ambush. They lie hidden under leaves, waiting for prey to move within striking range. To entice prospective meals their way death adders possess a lure at the end of their tails. The snake moves this lure to make it look like a small worm. The potential predator then becomes the prey.The venom of the death adder is highly neurotoxic, causing muscle paralysis.

Even though a bite victim may be experiencing severe paralysis, antivenom can reverse this and the victim will usually experience a full recovery.

The death adder is often called the 'deaf adder', but as with all snakes there is an ear on each side of its head. These ears are covered by skin, and aren't visible. It is most likely that snakes can hear, but to a much lesser degree than humans. They are very sensitive to vibrations through their body. Death adders come in a wide variety of colours, ranging from greys and browns to reds and vivid oranges. The females produce live young, with clutch sizes often numbering over 12.

Did you know...

• Death adders are one of the fastest-striking snakes in Australia.
• Female death adders give birth to live young which, even when just minutes old, can still deliver a fatal bite.
• Death adders wiggle their worm-like tails to lure prey items within striking range.
• The name 'common death adder' is a bit odd, considering this species is classified as 'rare' due to the destruction of its habitat.
• Death adders have an undeserved reputation for ferocity. Sometimes they don't even bite when trodden on!

Where Death Adders are found in Australia:

Death Adder

The Tale Of The Mighty Crocodile

Crocodile

They are the world's largest living reptiles and can grow up to 23 feet. They are also one of the most ancient, having existed unchanged for nearly two hundred million years. Crocodiles are adept at learning and memorising routines, such as the location of nearby campers or the routes of travellers. In water, they tend to drag their prey under and drown them.

Crocodiles can be found basking along river banks, Fresh Water Crocodiles in Australia can grow to about 3 metres. Main habitats include wetlands, rivers, creeks, freshwater billabongs and swamps. They display fairly wide habitat preferences (clear water, muddy, still, fast flowing, shallow or deep). Salt Water Crocodiles can also frequent ocean habitats as well as rivers and freshwater marshes near where people live. Their maximum size is enormous, more than 20 feet.

When a crocodile warms-up, their heart rate increases and more blood flows to the surface. This speeds up heat intake and distribution through the body. Crocodiles are protected in many parts of the world, but they also are farmed commercially.

Crocodiles are hunted for their meat, their skin (which is made into leather), and their musk (which is used in perfumes). Because of hunting and destruction of their habitat most crocodile species are endangered.

The adult crocodiles are conditioned to respond to distress calls of the young. Despite parental care, mortality in hatchling crocodiles is generally over 90% due to predators like fishes, crabs, snakes, monitor lizards, raptors, large wading birds, mongooses, foxes, and jackals.

Crocodiles are fast over very short distances out of water. They have extremely powerful jaws capable of biting down with 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, and sharp teeth for tearing flesh, but cannot open their mouth if it is held closed.

Freshwater Crocodiles

These crocodiles make their home in inland freshwater rivers, billabongs and swamps of northern Australia. they are generally very timid and primarily eat insects and small fish. As with all native wildlife these amazing creatures should be treated with respect and not interfered with. Despite passage of wildlife protection laws at the national level, communities are often unaware that crocodiles are officially protected.

Freshwater crocodiles are common in the Kimberley , where they bask in and around rivers, lakes and pools in gorges. While they may look ferocious, they are relatively harmless.

Saltwater Crocodiles

Saltwater crocodiles can be dangerous, they are also quite capable of living in the open ocean for periods of time and will cross large expanses of water to reach new areas. Young crocodiles are about 30 centimeters (1 foot) long at birth. After that, they will grow about 25 centimeters per year (10 inches) until they reach six years of age. Saltwater crocodiles are big and awe-inspiring. Males reaching 5 m long regularly and some odd individuals reaching 6-7 meters.

Females will lay up to 50 eggs in a large pile of vegetation, sand and soil, usually on the banks of a river, swamp or estuary. They also point out that because saltwater crocodiles are migratory,  rivers cannot be assumed to be croc free, as a croc could have moved in recently.

These reptiles are very intelligent and instinctive, and have great memory capabilities. If something causes a crocodile stress it will avoid that cause of stress for the rest of its life. The adult crocodiles are said to feed on anything it can outswim or ambush and overpower. Odd objects like chunks of wood, pebbles and even rocks are found in crocodiles stomach.

Crocodile

Bearded Dragon: An Interesting Pet Lizard

Bearded Dragon

The Bearded Dragon is a friendly, sun-loving, terrestrial lizard that favours elevated perches such as tree stumps, fence posts or rocks as basking sites, and seeks shelter under debris or vegetation. They are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. Adults reach a maximum size of approximately 50cm (snout to tail) and reproduce by laying eggs.

Sometimes referred to as Pogona, this includes several species of medium-sized built lizards. Bearded dragons are named for their distinctive flap of skin which lies below their jaw. When threatened, these lizards assume a defensive posture, opening their mouths and pushing their throat skin forward to make this "beard".

Considered as a very social lizard, Bearded Dragons have a rich gestural language--bobbing their heads at one another, gaping their mouths, flattening their bodies and tilting as they circle one another, swishing their tails, using their tongue to check each other or their environment out.

Agamidae family of lizard

The first described species of the Agamidae family of lizard was the Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) found in the east and south-east of Australia. Up until recent years, many other species in the genus were incorrectly diagnosed as this species.

Growing to around 60cm (24in), the Eastern Bearded Dragon is the largest of the genus Pogona which is endemic to Australia. It is usually grey in colour although some specimens are more brown in colour. They live in a semi-arboreal habitat, around fallen timber, tree stumps and fence posts.

In the south-west of Western Australia these bearded dragons inhabit the coastal dunes and arid shrublands. Whilst on larger islands off the mid-west coast their habitat varies from limestone soils supporting heath lands and shrublands to sandy areas vegetated with beach Spinifex.

Domesticated Pogonas especially the Pogona vitticeps (Central or Inland Bearded Dragon) are found in the semi-arid regions of Australia and very often kept as pets.

Caring for the bearded dragon

Bearded Dragons are next to leopard geckos as the most commonly kept pet reptile among pet keepers and hobbyists. They are considered a beginner pet reptile yet they do require a more complex enclosure, diet and utmost care.

Diet and Hygiene

Bearded Dragons are omnivores and require a varied diet of insects and vegetables. Crickets and cockroaches are some of their favourite foods.

Feeding time is something that many bearded dragon owners look forward to. Dragons tend to be very enthusiastic when it's time to feed, and they can turn an ordinary meal into a sort of comedy routine.

Hygiene is critically an important factor when keeping bearded dragons. It is very important to ensure that food and water are clean and not soiled.

Pet Housing

An adequate sized enclosure for a mature Bearded Dragon would be four foot by two foot. The dragon enclosure can be made from either wood, glass or fibreglass as long as it has adequate ventilation to allow for air flow.

Ultraviolet light is necessary for Bearded Dragons for calcium metabolism. This can be provided by artificial "UV lights" or by natural sunlight, unfiltered by glass or plastic. During nighttime, a source of heat maybe produced by either reflector light bulbs, heatmats, ceramic bulbs etc.

You can put some plants in with your Bearded Dragon but you have to make sure the plant and the dirt is completely free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Bearded Dragons have overtaken the Green Iguana and even the geckos as the most popular reptile pet. With their unique appearance, attentiveness, docile nature, and simple care requirements, they make intriguing pets.

Australian Bearded Dragons are one of the easiest pet lizard to look after. Provided you can care for them regularly--clean their water and food dishes daily and keep their air temperature in their terrarium between 24 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius, things should run very smoothly for this rare find and interesting pet lizard.

Bearded Dragon

Cool Companions at the Gardening Australia Expo

Tania Carter from Cool Companions with Lucy the Rufus Battong

Kangaroo hops into expo

Bettong kangaroo

Zane Jackson (The Queensland Times)

IPSWICH wildlife carer Tania Carter has a simple message – look after native animals in your backyard and they will look after you.

With native Rufus Bettong kangaroo Lucy by her side, Ms Carter will be spreading the wildlife gospel today and at the weekend at the ABC Gardening Australia Expo in Brisbane.

She said with so much natural habitat being destroyed for housing and other developments, looking after native animals in your own backyard gained extra significance.

“Take the Rufus Bettong kangaroo, they are a native species, that used to be common around Ipswich,” she said.

“You could find the Bettong kangaroo everywhere but with so many habitats now destroyed, you only find them around Greenbank, White Rock and out to Laidley.

“You don’t have to give up having pets or anything like that; it’s just a case of keeping an eye out, trying to preserve the habitat you find them in and socialising pets so they don’t attack.”

With her Cool Companions business the Redbank resident is spreading the wildlife gospel around Ipswich at shopping centres, schools and parties. This weekend her message will reach an even bigger audience.

Held from today until April 18, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the ABC Gardening Australia Expo will deliver Ms Carter one large captive audience.

“What I’d like to get across is that by living and working together with native animals in our backyards and properties, there are benefits for everyone,” she said.

Bettong kangaroo

Pests threaten Queensland's native animals

Queensland's native animals are at risk from unknowing residents trying to exterminate backyard 'pests'.

KATE HIGGINS (Brisbane Times)

Matthew Osley, a wildlife keeper at Cool Companions, the education branch of the Dreamtime Wildlife Sanctuary, said Queenslanders often tried to rid their yards of harmless animals.

Queensland's native animals on the loose

"A lot of people think that the backyard creatures are kind of annoying, but we've got snakes that keep rodents down in the backyards and we've got lizards that keep bugs down," he said.