Eco Living
How to Help Injured or Distressed Wildlife
Wildlife experts explain what to do – and what not to do – when you find hurt, sick or traumatised native animals
The Australian summer brings many threats to our native fauna – from extra holiday traffic on country roads, to heatwaves, drought and bushfire. It’s the time of year that we’re most likely to find animals in need of extra care or medical attention.
Should you find an injured, sick or orphaned animal, the correct intervention can increase its chances of survival. What to do will depend on the type of animal you’re dealing with and where it is. Here, Craig Eddie, principal ecologist/director at BOOBOOK Ecological Consulting/Ecotours, and representatives from Sydney Wildlife and WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) explain the dos and don’ts of wildlife rescue, how to ensure your own safety when caring for animals, and who to call for advice and assistance.
Should you find an injured, sick or orphaned animal, the correct intervention can increase its chances of survival. What to do will depend on the type of animal you’re dealing with and where it is. Here, Craig Eddie, principal ecologist/director at BOOBOOK Ecological Consulting/Ecotours, and representatives from Sydney Wildlife and WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) explain the dos and don’ts of wildlife rescue, how to ensure your own safety when caring for animals, and who to call for advice and assistance.
Once personal safety is established, what are the next steps to follow?
WIRES: If you find a sick, injured or orphaned animal, remove any threat to the animal and ensure people and pets are kept well away from it. If it is safe to do so, wrap the animal in a towel and gently place it in a ventilated box. Move it to a dark, quiet spot – this will help reduce the animal’s stress levels.
Sydney Wildlife: If the animal can’t be picked up and contained in a box, you can place a box over the top of it to protect it from predators and contain it until a rescuer arrives. For larger animals such as kangaroos or wombats, and animals that are too dangerous to approach, simply wait nearby and keep an eye on it until the rescuer arrives.
WIRES: If you find a sick, injured or orphaned animal, remove any threat to the animal and ensure people and pets are kept well away from it. If it is safe to do so, wrap the animal in a towel and gently place it in a ventilated box. Move it to a dark, quiet spot – this will help reduce the animal’s stress levels.
Sydney Wildlife: If the animal can’t be picked up and contained in a box, you can place a box over the top of it to protect it from predators and contain it until a rescuer arrives. For larger animals such as kangaroos or wombats, and animals that are too dangerous to approach, simply wait nearby and keep an eye on it until the rescuer arrives.
Once the animal is contained or under observation, call the nearest wildlife rescue organisation and they’ll advise you what to do next. They may arrange for a rescuer to come and collect the animal, or they’ll tell you where to take it. If you’re travelling in the country, look for road signs with the relevant wildlife rescue contact details. [Or refer to the list at the end of this article.]
For faster medical attention, smaller, non-dangerous animals should be carefully transported to the nearest vet. Vets don’t charge to look after native wildlife; they look on it as a duty of care.
How to Take the Stress Out of Moving … for Pets
For faster medical attention, smaller, non-dangerous animals should be carefully transported to the nearest vet. Vets don’t charge to look after native wildlife; they look on it as a duty of care.
How to Take the Stress Out of Moving … for Pets
Is there anything you advise people not to do?
Eddie: Animals should be handled as little as possible as [too much contact] could cause further injury or stress. Never give the animals food or water when rescued unless this is advised by the wildlife rescue/caring group or vet.
Eddie: Animals should be handled as little as possible as [too much contact] could cause further injury or stress. Never give the animals food or water when rescued unless this is advised by the wildlife rescue/caring group or vet.
Tips for containing and transporting injured animals
Sydney Wildlife: When travelling, the best tool you can have is an old towel. To pick up a small animal or bird, drop a towel over them and bundle them up like washing. If you don’t have a box to put animals in when transporting them in the car, wrap them securely in the towel – you don’t want an animal getting loose in the car. When transporting an animal, keep things quiet – turn the radio off and limit conversation.
WIRES: Always ensure the box has access holes for airflow and call WIRES [or your local rescue organisation] for advice on what to do if the animal becomes restless or panics.
Sydney Wildlife: When travelling, the best tool you can have is an old towel. To pick up a small animal or bird, drop a towel over them and bundle them up like washing. If you don’t have a box to put animals in when transporting them in the car, wrap them securely in the towel – you don’t want an animal getting loose in the car. When transporting an animal, keep things quiet – turn the radio off and limit conversation.
WIRES: Always ensure the box has access holes for airflow and call WIRES [or your local rescue organisation] for advice on what to do if the animal becomes restless or panics.
Photo ©Half-Light Photographic, WIRES
Remember where you found the animal
WIRES: When reporting wildlife rescues, always confirm the exact location where the animal was found. Many young animals can possibly be reunited with their parents if we know exactly where they were found. Many native animals are also very territorial and it is critical that we release them where they were found, when they are ready, to ensure their best chance of survival.
Remember where you found the animal
WIRES: When reporting wildlife rescues, always confirm the exact location where the animal was found. Many young animals can possibly be reunited with their parents if we know exactly where they were found. Many native animals are also very territorial and it is critical that we release them where they were found, when they are ready, to ensure their best chance of survival.
What are the risks people should be aware of when handling wild animals?
Eddie: Many Australian animals (other than snakes, crocs, spiders and sharks) can be hazardous. Even some of our cute and cuddliest wildlife like koalas, possums, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots and large rodents may have sharp or powerful claws and teeth. Goannas and some other lizards also have sharp teeth and claws, which can inflict nasty wounds. Certain snakes are venomous, but even non-venomous species such as pythons can be dangerous to handle. Microbats and flying-foxes may carry infectious diseases (such as lyssavirus and Hendra virus).
WIRES: Improper rescue can hurt or distress the animal and the rescuer, which is why WIRES trains all its volunteers. Always exercise caution when handling any wildlife.
Eddie: Many Australian animals (other than snakes, crocs, spiders and sharks) can be hazardous. Even some of our cute and cuddliest wildlife like koalas, possums, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots and large rodents may have sharp or powerful claws and teeth. Goannas and some other lizards also have sharp teeth and claws, which can inflict nasty wounds. Certain snakes are venomous, but even non-venomous species such as pythons can be dangerous to handle. Microbats and flying-foxes may carry infectious diseases (such as lyssavirus and Hendra virus).
WIRES: Improper rescue can hurt or distress the animal and the rescuer, which is why WIRES trains all its volunteers. Always exercise caution when handling any wildlife.
Photo by Jodi Lewis, Sydney Wildlife
What to do if you see an injured flying fox
Eddie: Bats and flying foxes should not ever be handled by the general public. They can only be handled by people who are suitably trained and vaccinated against the diseases they may potentially carry. If found, call the relevant wildlife rescue group for advice.
Sydney Wildlife: Flying foxes on power lines is something we’d like members of the public to report to the Sydney Wildlife hotline [or the relevant local rescue organisation]. This is because baby flying foxes hang on and suckle under their mother’s armpit until they are old enough to be left with the colony. If the mother dies, the hidden baby can still survive, clinging on, for several days. Wildlife rescue organisations can arrange for these orphan babies to be taken into care and raised until old enough to go back into the wild.
Browse Aussie backyards
What to do if you see an injured flying fox
Eddie: Bats and flying foxes should not ever be handled by the general public. They can only be handled by people who are suitably trained and vaccinated against the diseases they may potentially carry. If found, call the relevant wildlife rescue group for advice.
Sydney Wildlife: Flying foxes on power lines is something we’d like members of the public to report to the Sydney Wildlife hotline [or the relevant local rescue organisation]. This is because baby flying foxes hang on and suckle under their mother’s armpit until they are old enough to be left with the colony. If the mother dies, the hidden baby can still survive, clinging on, for several days. Wildlife rescue organisations can arrange for these orphan babies to be taken into care and raised until old enough to go back into the wild.
Browse Aussie backyards
Photo ©Half-Light Photographic, WIRES
Which animals carry their young in a pouch? Is it okay to check the pouch?
WIRES: Possums, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, koalas and kangaroos all carry their young in pouches.
Sydney Wildlife: If you find one of these animals that has recently died, check to see if it has a pouch containing a live baby. If live young is found, immediately contact wildlife rescue or a vet for advice on what to do, as sick, injured or orphaned joeys need immediate care.
If the baby is very young, do not remove it from the pouch. As infants, these animals cling tightly onto a teat, and you can actually pull their palate out if you pull them out. If this is the case, leave the baby inside the mother even though she’s dead, and try to transport the mother.
If it’s old enough and has already detached itself, you can take it from the pouch. Keep it in a warm, dark, quiet place, wrapped in a towel in a ventilated carrier while you transport it to the closest vet, or wait for a rescuer. [Note that baby echidnas must be kept cooler than 30°C.]
Don’t try to feed it; don’t give it water.
Which animals carry their young in a pouch? Is it okay to check the pouch?
WIRES: Possums, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, koalas and kangaroos all carry their young in pouches.
Sydney Wildlife: If you find one of these animals that has recently died, check to see if it has a pouch containing a live baby. If live young is found, immediately contact wildlife rescue or a vet for advice on what to do, as sick, injured or orphaned joeys need immediate care.
If the baby is very young, do not remove it from the pouch. As infants, these animals cling tightly onto a teat, and you can actually pull their palate out if you pull them out. If this is the case, leave the baby inside the mother even though she’s dead, and try to transport the mother.
If it’s old enough and has already detached itself, you can take it from the pouch. Keep it in a warm, dark, quiet place, wrapped in a towel in a ventilated carrier while you transport it to the closest vet, or wait for a rescuer. [Note that baby echidnas must be kept cooler than 30°C.]
Don’t try to feed it; don’t give it water.
WIRES: Also check the surrounding area as the joey might have been bumped out of the pouch and could be hiding in nearby bushes. If you live nearby it’s a good idea to re-check the area a few times during the day to make sure no joeys are present.
Never attempt to raise an orphaned animal yourself as they require special feeding formulas and care to have any chance of survival and release back into their natural habitat. It is also illegal to keep native animals as pets.
Never attempt to raise an orphaned animal yourself as they require special feeding formulas and care to have any chance of survival and release back into their natural habitat. It is also illegal to keep native animals as pets.
Rescuing echidnas
Eddie: Echidnas should not be handled as a general rule; obviously the spines are dangerous, but also attempting to pick them up can injure them as they tend to dig themselves into the ground. Call the relevant wildlife care/rescue group for advice.
WIRES: Echidnas cannot tolerate temperatures above 30°C. When checking a deceased female echidna’s pouch, also check the surrounding area for young as very young echidnas can easily be dislodged from the flap-like pouch of the mother on impact with a vehicle. If transporting an echidna puggle to the vet in hot weather, help keep it cool by placing a towel-wrapped ice brick near it (but not touching it).
Eddie: Echidnas should not be handled as a general rule; obviously the spines are dangerous, but also attempting to pick them up can injure them as they tend to dig themselves into the ground. Call the relevant wildlife care/rescue group for advice.
WIRES: Echidnas cannot tolerate temperatures above 30°C. When checking a deceased female echidna’s pouch, also check the surrounding area for young as very young echidnas can easily be dislodged from the flap-like pouch of the mother on impact with a vehicle. If transporting an echidna puggle to the vet in hot weather, help keep it cool by placing a towel-wrapped ice brick near it (but not touching it).
Rescuing birds
Eddie: Never attempt to handle anything that is potentially dangerous with a sharp beak or claws, such as owls, eagles/falcons, and parrots/cockatoos. [Call your local rescue organisation and they will send an experienced handler to help.] Handle birds as little as possible – many (such as small honeyeaters and wrens) are very delicate, and rough handling can cause more damage. If a baby bird has fallen from a nest, you can return it if it is safe to do so – it’s always best for the parents to look after their babies.
Sydney Wildlife: Birds are very susceptible to stress. Placing a towel over them helps, they will feel calmer in the dark. Putting them in a ventilated box is also helpful – put them in, towel and all; they’ll extricate themselves from the towel if they need to and the towel will stop them slipping around while you take them to the vet. Quietness is important, so avoid loud noises, talking and music.
Eddie: Never attempt to handle anything that is potentially dangerous with a sharp beak or claws, such as owls, eagles/falcons, and parrots/cockatoos. [Call your local rescue organisation and they will send an experienced handler to help.] Handle birds as little as possible – many (such as small honeyeaters and wrens) are very delicate, and rough handling can cause more damage. If a baby bird has fallen from a nest, you can return it if it is safe to do so – it’s always best for the parents to look after their babies.
Sydney Wildlife: Birds are very susceptible to stress. Placing a towel over them helps, they will feel calmer in the dark. Putting them in a ventilated box is also helpful – put them in, towel and all; they’ll extricate themselves from the towel if they need to and the towel will stop them slipping around while you take them to the vet. Quietness is important, so avoid loud noises, talking and music.
Photo ©Half-Light Photographic, WIRES
Snake and reptile rescue
WIRES: Never attempt to touch or contain a snake. While many species are not venomous, it’s always recommended to keep children and pets away as a precaution.
If you find a snake in your house, move family members and pets to another room. If safe to do so, isolate the snake by closing any doors into that room and placing rolled-up towels along the bottom of the doors; then call wildlife rescue for assistance.
If you find an injured snake outdoors, call wildlife rescue and a trained rescuer will be organised to attend. Keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance, ensuring pets and people are kept away.
Eddie: It’s best to leave handling of reptiles to the professionals. Goannas have sharp teeth and claws, and even large skinks and dragons may give a powerful bite if handled incorrectly.
Snake and reptile rescue
WIRES: Never attempt to touch or contain a snake. While many species are not venomous, it’s always recommended to keep children and pets away as a precaution.
If you find a snake in your house, move family members and pets to another room. If safe to do so, isolate the snake by closing any doors into that room and placing rolled-up towels along the bottom of the doors; then call wildlife rescue for assistance.
If you find an injured snake outdoors, call wildlife rescue and a trained rescuer will be organised to attend. Keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance, ensuring pets and people are kept away.
Eddie: It’s best to leave handling of reptiles to the professionals. Goannas have sharp teeth and claws, and even large skinks and dragons may give a powerful bite if handled incorrectly.
Assisting heat-stressed wildlife
WIRES: If you observe a native animal that appears dehydrated, lethargic or weak, contact a vet or your local wildlife rescue organisation.
Birds are the most common wildlife to be found in suburban backyards. During the hotter months you can place a water bowl for them to bathe in and drink from in a shady place, out of reach of pets or predators. Overheated birds exhibit specific signs of stress such as panting. A healthy bird will generally move to a shady cooler spot, so if you see a stationary bird in full sun and panting it’s an indication that something could be wrong.
How to Keep Your Pets Cool and Comfortable in a Heatwave
WIRES: If you observe a native animal that appears dehydrated, lethargic or weak, contact a vet or your local wildlife rescue organisation.
Birds are the most common wildlife to be found in suburban backyards. During the hotter months you can place a water bowl for them to bathe in and drink from in a shady place, out of reach of pets or predators. Overheated birds exhibit specific signs of stress such as panting. A healthy bird will generally move to a shady cooler spot, so if you see a stationary bird in full sun and panting it’s an indication that something could be wrong.
How to Keep Your Pets Cool and Comfortable in a Heatwave
Who to call for help
- Nationally: phone the nearest vet, or contact your state branch of the RSPCA
- NSW metro and regional: WIRES 1300 094 737; Sydney metro: Sydney Wildlife 24-hour assistance (02) 9413 4300
- Queensland: RSPCA 1300 264 625
- NT: Wildcare NT (08) 8988 6121
- WA: Wildcare Helpline (08) 9474 9055
- SA: Fauna Rescue of SA (08) 8289 0896
- Victoria: Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300
- Tasmania: Wildcare Tasmania 1300 827 727
- ACT: ACT Wildlife 0432 300 033
Tell us
Have you rescued any native wildlife? Share your experiences in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
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Read more animal-related stories
Have you rescued any native wildlife? Share your experiences in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read more animal-related stories
Eddie: The first thing to do if an injured/orphaned animal is found is to consider the safety of yourself and anybody else present. No one should put themselves at risk to rescue an animal – don’t attempt to cross a busy road or climb a building or tree, for example.
WIRES: Identify the animal. Never approach, touch or try to contain snakes, monitor lizards (goannas), bats (flying-foxes or microbats), large macropods (kangaroos or wallabies) or raptors (eagles, falcons or hawks). These animals require specialist handling and must always be rescued by trained wildlife rescuers. If you are unsure what species of animal you have found, you can compare it against the images and check the information highlighted on the WIRES Emergency Advice webpage.