General News
12 August, 2024
Wallabies hone in on luxury plants
The dry start to winter has proven tough for farmers but for Rupanyup Garden Centre it has brought an extra challenge: having to battle unwanted wallabies invading the business.
For the past month, wallabies have been snacking on the wide variety of potted plants, partially or fully eating the leaves from the stalk.
Owner Leslie Boan has placed temporary fencing on all possible entry and exits points, as well as breathable cloths over plants in an attempt to deter wallabies from visiting the site.
Plants such as lavender and roses have been targets, along with rhubarb leaves, which Mr Boan said were supposed to be poisionous.
"They've been getting into everything and making a mess of it all," he said.
"I only see one at a time but I think there are more."
Mr Boan said he had lost six to eight weeks worth of work as he was unable to pot fresh plants because they would also be eaten.
"I know they're just going to get destroyed," he said.
"We did have a similar problem about four or five years ago but it didn't go on as long."
Mr Boan said even if rain encouraged fresh grass to grow, he didn't think the wallabies would stop eating his plants.
"Why would they go back to grass when they know they have more choice here?" he said.
"It's nature: you can't stop it."
It has cost Mr Boan about $4000 to erect a permanent fence to protect the business from wallabies.
"We're doing all we can at the moment," he said.
Despite this, Rupanyup Garden Centre remains open from 10am to 4pm at 12 Stewart Street, Rupanyup.