Safety and caring for the park
Help protect Booderee by not feeding the wildlife and reducing your impact during your visit.
Please do not feed the animals
Unwanted Guests
Feeding attracts unwanted birds and other animals who come and prey on small native birds. It also increases the number of crimson rosellas who force other birds out of the area.
Turning nasty
Handfed wildlife become:
- aggressive toward people and each other
- dependent upon unnatural food – some animals starve in winter.
- annoying to visitors in tents, caravans and at picnic tables
Bad diets
Food provided by visitors can be fatal to wildlife because it can make them very sick.
Health hazards
Sick animals, such as birds, can transmit bad disease to people and they also sometimes bite and scratch when they are being fed. This is frightening and often painful and can lead to serious infections.
Fire
Wildfires can cause enormous damage to the bush and kill many native species in their path. They also endanger people’s lives and destroy homes and property. To avoid causing wildfires please:
- check fire restrictions before lighting fires
- only use fires for cooking
- only light fires in the fireplaces provided
Total fire ban days
Total fire bans will be declared in the Park when a ban is in place for the Shoalhaven district, or at other times as determined by the Park Manager. In the event of a total fire ban:
- fire signs in the Park will indicate extreme fire danger and/or total fire ban
- walking trails will be closed, with the exception of Murrays Beach, Caves, Bristol Point, Green Patch, Ruined Lighthouse access points and some walking trails in the Botanic Gardens
- no fires are allowed for any purpose
- Electric barbecues at Green Patch day use and camping areas and Botanic Gardens may be used
Sharks
Visitors are warned that sharks are common off beaches in and around Booderee National Park. Please stay safe by not swimming alone or around time and area where a shark attack might occur.