3 minute read
Rescue remedy
by zoosvic
Brush up on the best way to respond when you encounter injured or orphaned wildlife.
WORDS Jo Stewart
t’s not only humans who welcome the longer days and increased daylight that come with spring — our native wildlife also becomes more active. I
The heightened activity brings a greater risk to the safety of our native wildlife – from kangaroos getting struck by cars to parrots flying into windows, Victoria’s native animals are impacted by human encroachment on their environment.
Thankfully, many of us are quick to help when we find injured or orphaned animals, but what’s the best way to respond to a wildlife emergency?
Safety first
are no risks to your own safety. For example, when helping an animal near a road remember to only stop your car and cross busy roads if it’s safe to do so.
You should immediately call a wildlife rescue hotline, as the operator will talk you through the process or send a trained wildlife rescuer to help.
As a Veterinary Nurse at Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Chris Stitt is part of a team that treats more than 1,500 native animals annually. Chris recommends taking an injured animal to a wildlife centre or vet, sooner rather than later.
“If you are a long way from our Centre, you should go to your nearest vet clinic,” says Chris.
CHRIS STITT
Veterinary Nurse at Healsville Sanctuary
Where to find help
Look out for me!
All creatures great and small
How you approach an animal in distress depends on its size and species.
Chris recommends using a towel to pick up smaller animals like possums, gliders and bats before putting them (and the towel) in a cardboard box with small holes poked in it for airflow.
A pet carrier – used for cats and dogs – is a good solution for birds, because cardboard is no match for a beak.
“You don’t want to put a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in a cardboard box, because they’ll eat it,” says Chris, with a laugh.
Larger animals, like kangaroos, should be treated with caution.
“Kangaroos can injure people, because they’ve got strong feet and tails. It’s best to watch them closely and call Wildlife Victoria to get a trained person to capture the animal,” Chris explains.
Wombats may be cute, but they can also pack a punch. “Adult wombats are amazingly strong. If you’re in the way of where they want to go, they’ll go straight through you,” adds Chris.
On an even smaller scale, what happens if you find a joey in the pouch of a deceased marsupial?
“If there’s a joey in the pouch and the mother has died, we recommend calling a trained person to talk you through how to safely remove it from the pouch.”
Keeping it simple
It’s a natural reaction to offer food to injured wildlife, but it’s important to remember that animals in distress have simple needs.
“We don’t recommend feeding animals,” says Chris. “If an animal has eaten, the longer it is before we can anaesthetise them, so simply keep the animal in a warm and dark place, with a small dish of water.”
Chris strongly discourages taking selfies with injured animals.
“I understand why people would want a photo with an animal they’ve found — a lot of them are extremely cute – but you need to do everything possible to reduce its stress levels. Remember, it’s a wild animal and it will be scared or in pain. If you want to take photos of animals, visit Healesville Sanctuary.” ZN
Wildlife Victoria P: (03) 8400 7300 wildlifevictoria.org.au
The emergency response phone line is open seven days a week between 6.40am and 8.30pm. You can also report a wildlife emergency on the website or via the Snap Send Solve app.
Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre P: (03) 5957 2829
Drop off injured or orphaned native wildlife at the Centre between 9am and 4pm.
Melbourne Zoo’s Marine Response Unit P: 1300 245 678
Call the hotline for assistance with injured seals, turtles, dolphins, whales, seabirds and other marine wildlife in Victorian waters.
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