The founder and president of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Group says she was heartbroken when two little penguins were crushed by vegetation clearing machinery at Emu Bay earlier this month. 

Warning: This story contains an image some readers may find distressing.

Katie Welz was called to the area after another of the group's volunteers saw a contractor for the local council using hydro-axe machinery to clear vegetation on the periphery of the Emu Bay township.

The volunteer had managed to signal to the operator to stop but by that time two little penguins had been killed and several more burrows destroyed.

"They were crushed by the machinery," Mrs Welz said.

Mrs Welz and other volunteers watched that night as little penguins returned to the area where the damage had occurred.

"That night five or six were running around and couldn't find their burrow," she said.

"I was pissed off initially but that broke my heart. 

"It was totally preventable."

She said the worker was unaware that it was penguin habitat and the group in no way blamed him.

But Mrs Welz said Kangaroo Island Council should have been aware of the location of penguin burrows in the area before work started.

"The birds here are notorious for even nesting under people's houses," she said.

Mrs Welz said that while little penguins would usually be out at sea during the day, the birds killed may have been moulting — a period when they could remain on land for three to four weeks.

A Department for Environment and Water spokesperson said it was aware of the incident and would be taking steps to investigate.

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, it is illegal to take, release or injure an animal without appropriate authority.

Kangaroo Island Council was contacted for comment.

Eight of the birds have been found dead along South Australia's South Coast over a three-week period.

Mrs Welz said the island's little penguins were already vulnerable to attack by feral cats, dogs and goannas.

She has written to the council, the department and the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, and asked for a meeting to look at improving communication between the three bodies.

"We're totally on board with fuel reduction but we have issues with some of the practices," Mrs Welz said.

"There needs to be better collaboration and communication, and well in advance."

Mrs Welz would also ask the council to help rebuild burrows in the area.

"We're asking them to come forward and take responsibility and help," she said.

Her group has been trying to improve the habitat in environmentally degraded areas, including trialling the use of ceramic artificial burrows.

ABC South East SA will deliver a wrap of the week's news, stories and photos every Friday. Sign up to stay connected.