Not all koalas are sleeping and some are on the move.

Not all koalas are sleeping and some are on the move.

KOALAS are on the move across the Valley, and according to WIRES koala coordinator Patricia Edwards their numbers seem to show signs of increasing.

"When I took on the job four years ago it was unusual to have more than 10 koalas called in each year, but in the last two years the numbers have doubled," Mrs Edwards said.

"We aren't sure yet why this is. Most of those we check out appear to be healthy, so have obviously been supported by good habitat, but it looks now as if the young ones are moving out of their maternal territories in search of their own place, and there isn't that much of it left.

"They are turning up in some very unexpected places. A female and joey confirmed a viable population at Whiporie, where we've never had to attend to them before, but now we are finding them coming into South Grafton.

"Last year a single koala turned up on Goulds Ln, off the Armidale Rd, and another was relocated from a jacaranda tree opposite the pub near the Skinner St roundabout.

"This last week one was seen at the end of Bent St beside the golf course, and another moved right into suburbia on O'Brien Pl. These were definitely two different koalas."

By WIRES' assessment this last koala was in an unsuitable location and at risk.

However attempts to capture the animal for relocation had to be called off due to the possibility of triggering a stress-related disease, which is common in koalas. A second attempt after dark with a special trap around the tree also ended in failure, with the koala simply vanishing while his rescuers were having a cup of coffee.

"It does suggest the little guy might have known exactly where he was and where he was going," Mrs Edwards said.

"We generally do leave them alone if they aren't obviously sick or injured, but this one we agreed needed to be moved to a safer place. The puzzle was how he got into that yard in the first place, and we felt sure we could easily catch him once he was on the ground."

For some years WIRES has been maintaining records of threatened species and lodging them with the NSW Wildlife Atlas. If anyone sees a koala they can call it in to WIRES.

WIRES also thanks the people of the Clarence for being responsible dog owners.

"One of the main causes of koala deaths and injury in Coffs Harbour and Lismore is dog attack. We don't seem to have that same problem here," Mrs Edwards said. "But with koalas moving into peoples' yards there is almost certain to be some trouble."

All residents are urged to continue to keep their dogs confined to their own yards, and to keep shrubs trimmed back from fences that contain dogs. Dog owners are asked to check out any undue barking as soon as possible and if a koala is attacked to call WIRES immediately.

Even half an hour after a bite can mean certain death to what might otherwise be a viable koala.