20 November, 2013 2:39PM ACDT

50 shades of grey koalas

If you've been hearing loud snorting noises in the night you can stop blaming your partner- it may be a koala looking for love.

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The koala mating season is underway, and residents are being advised to be alert but not alarmed by the animal's unusual sounds and antics at this time of year.

"It really can be quite spooky if you don't know what it is, because it sounds like there's somebody snorting outside the house," explains Dr Deb Kelly, the Animal Welfare Manager for the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

"People do get rather concerned, which is why we thought we should let them know that it is mating season- they're out and about and yes you will hear them."

She said the koalas' seemingly aggressive mating act is often mistaken for fighting.

"The whole ritual is fairly rough, the male bites the female and holds her and she'll sometimes scream. It all gets fairly noise and fairly vigorous."

But Dr Deb Kelly said the mating season is not only a noisy affair, it's also quite perilous for koalas.

"Because they're moving around looking for partners they tend to put themselves in harms way more.

"They get on the roads, on the ground, and they're more liable to get hurt by dogs and people and all sorts of things, so they are at more risk."

She said residents can assist the koala canoodling by keeping dogs away from them.

"If you know there's one in the yard and can lock the dogs away to give the koala a chance to move on, it's good for both animals.

"We have dogs that kill koalas and koalas that quite severely injure dogs, so it's not just one way."

Dr Kelly said the mating seasons runs from about September to February.

Residents who spot an injured koala are advised to contact the fauna rescue line on (08) 7226 0017.

"If you try and move it yourself you'll stress the animal, and they do have strong teeth and claws so people can get quite nasty scratches and bites from them."