Cute, furry, venomous, threatened, freshwater and marine - the Northern Beaches is home to a large variety of native species.
The pages below spotlight some of our local native animals so you can find out what lives where and how to protect them.
Have you seen an animal you have never seen before? Think you’ve seen something special or rare? You can identify local plants and wildlife using free citizen science apps like iNaturalist or NSW BioNET. Every logged species adds to the knowledge scientists and decision-makers use to conserve biodiversity. You can also email your sightings (particularly of threatened species) directly to Council via species.sightings@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au for uploading to BioNet.
Remember to keep your cats indoors at night to prevent them from hunting local birds and other wildlife after dark. Keep pets restrained or supervised near bushland and away from sensitive areas such as Wildlife Protection Zones. Domestic dogs and cats kill more than a billion native animals across Australia each year. See Protect your Cat, Protect your Wildlife. WIRES and DAWE also have good tips on responsible pet ownership.
Injured animals
If you find an injured, unwell or orphaned native animal, please call a licensed wildlife rescue organisation such as Sydney Wildlife (9413 4300) or WIRES (1300 094 737) for advice and instruction.
If the animal is a flying-fox (also known as a fruit-bat) or another species of bat, please do not touch the animal but contact Sydney Wildlife or WIRES who will send a trained wildlife carer to respond.
If you come across a large seabird or marine animal such as a seal, sea turtle, dolphin, shark or whale on a local beach that may require protection or care, please contact Council on 1300 434 434. If possible, please take note of whether the animal appears to be in distress or is simply resting. This will allow us to determine whether the animal needs specialist care from an organisation such as ORRCA or Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue.
Please contact Council on 1300 434 434 to report any deceased animals that may pose a public health and safety risk (e.g. large animals on a busy beach or road).
Feeding Wildlife
Your backyard or balcony can be a habitat for our delightful local wildlife, and part of creating a healthy space is knowing when not to intervene. Feeding or touching wildlife can feel kind, but it often creates problems for the animals we’re trying to help.
Human food can make them sick, and their specialised diets shift with the seasons, so even “healthy‑seeming” snacks can throw their natural routines off. Animals that start relying on people may become pushy or lose the instincts that keep them safe, and handfeeding can spread diseases like Beak and Feather Disease among birds. Extra food can also cause some species to boom in numbers, putting pressure on others that share the same habitat.
Visit our Backyard Habitat page for practical ways you can support wildlife in a way that keeps them healthy and thriving, without the risks that come from feeding.
