Stanthorpe cattle grids labelled a ‘deathtrap’ for native animals by Kangaroo Kaper Wildlife Sanctuary worker

After an animal rescue ended in heartbreak, one Stanthorpe wildlife rescuer has labelled a common road feature as a ‘tomb’ for native wildlife.

Wildlife rescuer Kylie Hibberd found this kangaroo from a cattle grid on November, days later it was found dead in a second cattle grid, up the road (Photo: Kangaroo Kaper Wildlife Sanctuary)

A Stanthorpe animal sanctuary worker has called for change over what many see as a common rural road feature – which she has described as a ‘deathtrap’ for native animals.

For almost 13 years Stanthorpe wildlife rescuer Kylie Hibberd has been travelling around the Southern Downs catching and re-releasing animals in peril.

However, never in her career had she seen anything like what she would stumble across in November last year.

Ms Hibberd was rescuing an injured tawny frogmouth owl when she got a call there was a kangaroo caught in a cattle grid on Springdale Rd, south of Stanthorpe.

The Kangaroo Kaper Wildlife Sanctuary worker said it was one of the most horrific things she had seen, with the animal stuck, surrounded by concrete and on the verge of death.

Wildlife rescuer Kylie Hibberd found this kangaroo from a cattle grid on November, days later it was found dead in a second cattle grid, up the road (Photo: Kangaroo Kaper Wildlife Sanctuary)

“Kangaroos when they are scared can get a condition called stress myopathy, which when the animal is trapped the blood pressure and heart can lead to essentially a heart attack. There was absolutely no way any animal could escape without us,” she said.

Ms Hibberd said they might have been the only car on that road that day, and the only chance for the animal to get out.

With the help of two other travellers, Ms Hibberd was able to free the 50kg animal from what she said “would be certain death”.

The kangaroo was released into surrounding bushland and the next day, Ms Hibberd contacted the Southern Downs Regional Council in order to orchestrate some “remediation repairs”.

Wildlife rescuer Kylie Hibberd found this kangaroo from a cattle grid on November, days later it was found dead in a second cattle grid, up the road (Photo: Kangaroo Kaper Wildlife Sanctuary)

However, days later, Ms Hibberd returned to the isolated road and found what she believed was the same animal dead in a second cattle grid, further up the same road.

“It was literally a concrete tomb. Going from an exhilarating rescue to finding the same animal potentially dead in a second cattle grid, really knocked the wind out of me,” she said.

“The newer versions of cattle grids are supposed to be open at the bottom, to allow any animal to escape and prevent them being trapped and dying.

“It’s a terrible way for an animal to die – it’s a deathtrap.”

A Southern Downs Regional Council spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the concerns raised by Ms Hibberd, but said they had no plans to remove the cattle grids in the future.

“The grids on Springdale Rd form part of the wild dog exclusion fencing for the area. The grids are licensed and in good condition,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson confirmed that the grids weren’t owned by the council and were effective in reducing wild dog movements in the area.

“Council is unaware of a solution for the existing grids on Springdale Rd that would effectively reduce wild dog movements, yet prevent animal entrapment.”