Residents in Gelorup are calling for new rules preventing four-wheel drive owners and motorcycle riders from travelling through Five Mile Brook.
The call comes after local photographer Terri Sharp discovered the remains of a dead long-neck turtle on a 4WD/motorbike track in bushland, near Yalinda Drive.
"I was pretty upset when I found it...I smelled it before I saw it," Ms Sharp said.
Taking to social media, Ms Sharp and the local community are now urging people to avoid driving or riding through the area.
"This area is filled with birds, turtles, small fish, and frogs - they're all part of an ecosystem/habitat that is rich and unique," she said.
"Some people feel as if they're allowed to go anywhere they want, whether it be in four-wheel drives or on motorbikes.
"I don't think there should be vehicle/motorbike access into Five Mile Brook, especially when it's flowing.
"I think the council should be responsible for making, and maintaining, areas that people can go to for that specific activity."
Five Mile Brook is a shire-owned reserve known for being the northernmost waterway within the Geographe catchment.
Capel Shire president Michael Southwell said the use of off-road vehicles was not permitted in Five Mile Brook nor any other shire reserves.
"As well as performing its role as a key part of the stormwater drainage in this area, the brook is a very valuable natural asset which adds to the amenity and lifestyle of the Gelorup area," he said.
"It is a wonderful area for walking and canoeing when the creek runs during wet winters.
"Call shire rangers for off road vehicles or the police for dangerous driving instances."
