We spotted a koala while riding our bikes on the weekend.
It reminded me of the time I had a very close encounter with a koala …
Like most of us, I’d seen koalas at the zoo or wildlife sanctuaries.
But it wasn’t until I moved to the Redlands (after we got married), that I actually saw a koala “in the wild” so to speak. Actually it was more like suburbia … this area is well known for having one of the most significant urban populations of koalas in Australia.
Over the years I’ve seen koalas happily snoozing in trees in my own yard, at my children’s school, in parks, and in a shopping centre car park.
I’ve even seen a koala on all fours, scampering down our street (I thought it was a dog at first)!
They’re cuddly and cute – no wonder they’re our national icon.
What’s not to love?!
They’re not so lovable however during mating season, when they screech and squeal and grunt. It’s hard to believe such an unearthly din comes from such a cute creature!
One night, I was walking from the car to the house, when I felt some droplets land on my head. Strange, I thought. There’s not a cloud in the sky!
Next, a shower of pellets landed all around me …
You guessed it – high above me, hiding in the branches was a koala.
He’d piddled AND pooped on me!
I’ve heard of drop bears before, but this was a dropping bear LOL …
Have you ever had a close encounter with a koala?!
Hehehe – I’ve never had a such a close encounter with a koala and I don’t know that I want to! Normally I just see koalas sleeping in trees at the zoo.
I guess we’re pretty lucky to have them around where we live – though maybe not in this case!
I’ve never had any pee and poo encounters, but when I worked at the TAFE in Mt Gravatt I had many encounters with the resident koalas there. From admiring them and their young in the trees, to escorting a runaway across one of the internal roads, to (again) escorting a mum and bub out of the executive car park into the nearby trees. They are adorable creatures, but anything in a tree poses a risk to our hair for sure!
Yes we had a lot hanging around when I worked for our local Council too 🙂
Oh dear…
We actually had an article in our local paper about needing to be careful (on one of the roads out of town) as koalas had been hit by cars. There’s actually a ‘koalas may be crossing’ sign there but I have to admit I’ve never seen any!
I’ve been hit by bird poo before, but nothing from koalas. Thankfully!
Deb, we have those signs everywhere to the point where I hardly notice them anymore (even though we’re supposed to reduce speed) – oops!
Haha I’ve done the cuddling one at Dreamworld deal. Once in Adelaide during a heatwave I cut through the park back to where I was living and saw one on the ground, thought it was odd, googled it, found it out that was bad and called local council animal services to come and help it.
Yes I think they normally only venture to the ground to get to another tree.
ha ha ha – drop bear! 😀 #TeamIBOT
Eww! That’s so gross!
I’m always amazed at the sound koala’s make. It’s nothing like you would expect from looking at them.
I know right!
I have cuddled one but never had to deal with its droppings thankfully 🙂
That’s how we used to know they were around – we’d see the droppings under a tree and look up, sure enough there’d be a koala above. It was a bit close for comfort this time around though!
Hilarious! Maybe it’s good luck, like with birds? Haha!
LOL I didn’t think of that – I hope you’re right!
Lol! Ahh Janet. That’s funny and disgusting all at the same time 🙂
It really stank (stunk?!) too Renee – I had to have a shower straight away.
Ok….I haven’t had that close an encounter with a koala and not sure if I want to. I have however cuddled a Koala in Cairns and fed one in Newcastle.
You know I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually cuddled one Sanch … I probably did as a kid, but I seriously can’t remember. Might have to do something about that!
Oh no! Close encounters of the not-so-welcome kind!
Next stop was a close encounter with my shower and lots of soap! 😉
Is koala poop lucky like bird poop? Just wondering.
I sure hope so Fran, we could use a bit of the lucky stuff!!!