World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Adelaide rescue worker urges residents to leave roaming echidnas alone
Echidnas are increasingly active in suburban Adelaide, where residents are seeing them in yards and on streets.
A local rescue worker says people should not move them just because they spot one in an urban area.
Echidnas can travel through stormwater networks to reach food and water, and they can remember safe routes.
A short wait may be all that is needed: the worker says an echidna often leaves within half an hour to an hour.
The rescue group is busiest in September and October, later than the winter breeding season the worker says was typical in the past.
Calls for advice rose from 76 in 2024 to 212 in 2026, though the worker said this might reflect greater awareness of the rescue group.
Cars are the most common cause of injuries handled by the rescue worker, especially on dark, unlit and windy country roads.
A rescue worker says people in suburban Adelaide should leave roaming echidnas alone rather than move them.
Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue co-founder Mish Simpson says echidnas are usually travelling to water or food and often move on by themselves.
A Department for Environment and Water spokesperson says echidnas can navigate safe routes and avoid many urban threats.
Simpson says calls for advice rose from 76 in 2024 to 212 in 2026.
She says the rescue group’s busiest period is shifting towards September and October.
- Who
- Rescue worker Mish Simpson is urging residents to leave echidnas alone.
- What
- Simpson says people should not move roaming echidnas. They are generally travelling to a destination and may leave an area on their own.
- When
- The article was published on October 23, 2026. Simpson says September and October are becoming the rescue group’s busiest months.
- Where
- Suburban Adelaide, South Australia.
- Why
- Echidnas roam to reach water and food, and Simpson says they generally know where they are going.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Simpson said the rescue group received 76 calls from people seeking advice.
The rescue group cared for 15 echidnas.
Simpson said the rescue group received 212 advice calls and had cared for four echidnas so far that year.
Simpson said these months were becoming the rescue group’s busiest period.
ABC Australia published the report.
- Advice calls in 2024
- 76
- Advice calls in 2026
- 212
- Echidnas cared for in 2025
- 15
- Echidnas cared for so far in 2026
- 4
- Rescue group
- Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue
What people are saying
This poor thing doesn't want to be in the scrub. Stop taking it to the scrub. It's trying to get somewhere.
I just say give them half an hour to an hour and there's a good chance it will disappear
They have a wide temporal range of activity in a day and night cycle, so can avoid many urban threats.