Study Finds Australian Wildlife Moving Into Homes

Native animals are increasingly using Australian houses as substitute habitats, according to new research. The study analyzed a decade of wildlife rescue reports and found 2,400 cases of animals living in buildings.

Bethany Kiss, a University of Melbourne architect and the study's lead author, said animals seek out buildings as their natural homes and hollows disappear. "We found native wildlife using almost every part of the house imaginable," Kiss said. She noted people often think these are unusual incidents, but they are actually very common.

Most Common Animal Intruders

Researchers found brushtail and ringtail possums make up half of all cases of animals in buildings. Microbats and bare-nosed wombats were the next most common. Most animals were found in roof spaces, walls, garages, and under houses. About 10 percent were discovered in indoor rooms like bedrooms and kitchens. Some preferred unusual locations such as letterboxes or air conditioning systems.

Unusual Encounters in the Home

Wildlife Victoria, which provided the data, shared several recent cases. One caller discovered juvenile sugar gliders in her kitchen. "She had reached under the sink for a dishwashing tablet and instead her hand landed on something furry," said Aleisha Hall, a spokesperson for the rescue organisation. They found two gliders curled up together in a small jar, and a volunteer later found five more.

In another case, an echidna entered a house and headed for the pantry. The homeowner found it pulling items off the shelves, including a heavy food processor. Luckily, the homeowner was also a wildlife rescuer and returned it outside safely.

Coexistence and Rescue Advice

Ericka Tudhope, a rehabilitation specialist from Microbats of Melbourne, said bats living in roofs is common and nothing to fear if left alone. "They make great housemates by keeping bug numbers down and rarely do any damage to the house," she said. "They don't chew cables or wires."

The Wires rescue service in New South Wales said animals often seek shelter during cold or extreme weather. Last year, a member of the public called when a koala scampered down her hallway. By the time a volunteer arrived, the animal was sitting calmly on her bed.

Wildlife Victoria advocates for peaceful coexistence where possible but encourages anyone concerned about an animal in their home to contact their local wildlife rescue.

Designing for Wildlife

Bethany Kiss contrasted the accidental cohabitation in Australia with intentional design in the United Kingdom, where new builds sometimes include "swift nesting bricks." "We're in a biodiversity crisis and a housing crisis," she said. She argued for designing buildings better for both people and wildlife, using wildlife-friendly lighting, noise reduction, and habitat features like swallow shelves or possum boxes.

"One of the things that I would really like to see in Australia, is that we think about embedding the ecologist in the design process like you would with, say, an engineer," Kiss said. Co-author Professor Sarah Bekessy added that people benefit from everyday interactions with wildlife, which can improve mental wellbeing and strengthen connection with nature.