Apart from lots of cats, dogs and their human companions, the only wildlife to stroll across the bridge was the odd Pacific black duck, a magpie and a noisy miner — who opted to temporarily walk rather than fly.
The four wildlife surveillance cameras were installed at knee height to target ground level animals and avoid picking up humans.
It made for some amusing interactions.
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“The height we installed our cameras at is perfect for your average sized dog to piddle on,” RiverConnect education officer Allison Trethowan said.
“Once young children realised it was a camera they loved to come right up to it and wave and make funny faces.
“This may seem entertaining, but ultimately all photos that contain identifying features of people are deleted from our records to ensure privacy.”
Ms Trethowan said the passing cats — of which there were at least four regulars — were a concerning find for Greater Shepparton's wildlife population.
“Sadly, close to the bridge lives at least one, possibly more, populations of threatened squirrel gliders,” she said.
“These appear to be declining in numbers in recent years, which local experts believe is partly due to predatory behaviour by roaming cats.
“Also at risk are other small mammals, birds and reptiles, which are struggling with the decline in safe habitat to shelter in due to the removal of trees and fallen logs throughout our riparian and forest areas.”
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Ms Trethowan said even the "best fed cats" were prone to hunting, and most picked up on the camera looked to be well-looked-after pets.
“They will still hunt wild animals because it’s a natural instinct for them, just like the way they chase and play with the toys we have for them,” she said.
A 24-hour cat curfew is currently enforced in Greater Shepparton, with cats required to be confined to their homes at all times under local law.
If a cat is found wandering or not securely confined, owners are guilty of an offence and liable to up to one penalty unit for a first offence and three for a subsequent offence.
“Allowing your cat to roam, despite what your cat tells you, is actually quite bad for them,” Ms Trethowan said.
“They can get into fights with other cats over territory, risking injuries and infections.
“They are also at risk of being hit on roads by vehicles and can become a nuisance to your neighbours.
“There is a belief that if we keep our cats in at night then we are keeping wildlife safe, but this is incorrect.”
Ms Trethowan said while cats mostly hunted at night, it wasn't uncommon for them to hunt during the day, which meant it was important to keep them confined to their properties.
“This doesn’t mean your cat has to always be in your house, there are some great ways to create outdoor enclosures or place barriers along fences to keep cats within our own outdoor areas,” she said.
Ms Trethowan said the evidence picked up during the survey "increased the likelihood" works would be undertaken by Greater Shepparton City Council in the coming months to reduce the amount of cats roaming the streets and reserves.
