Rehabilitation Centre (Inc.)First aid for Wildlife
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Stop in a safe place.
Take care not to endanger yourself or others by stopping your car suddenly in a dangerous location.
Approach with caution.
Approach any wild animal with care. Kangaroos particularly, are capable of lashing out with their powerful back legs, even if severely injured. Most animals are able to inflict nasty bites and scratches when frightened and in pain. Use a towel or piece of clothing to throw over a bird or small mammal before attempting to pick it up. With an injured kangaroo phone Kanyana, 9293 1416 or DECs Wildcare Helpline, 9474 9055. as soon as possible.
If the animal is dead.
Always check the pouch. Animals such as kangaroos, possums and bandicoots carry their young in a pouch. A bulge or movement inside a pouch may indicate a live young. Gently remove the joey, taking care not to cause further injury. A large animal that has been dead for several hours may still have live young in its pouch.
Keep the animal warm.
A cold animal that is sick, injured or orphaned will stay cold unless it is heated by some external heat source. Wrapping the animal in a towel or jumper alone will not make it warm. Small animals can be put under the front of a persons jumper, this is a safe, reliable heat source.
Food and water.
Do not offer any food or water to any wildlife until advice has been received from a rehabilitation centre. Baby birds can need specialised feeding up to ten times a day, so the urgency in getting them to a carer cannot be over-emphasised.
Transportation.
Whenever any wildlife is in need of rescue, they will be frightened, probably in pain from any injury they may have received and will be in a state of extreme stress and shock. Place rescued animal in a cardboard box, ideally with towelling or the like on the bottom and a secure lid on top. Place the box in a quiet, warm spot, away from radio (including car radio) TV, children and pets. Contact Kanyana wildlife rehabilitation centre on 08 9293 1416 or DECs Wildcare Helpline on 08 9474 9055. Both numbers provide 24 hour service, they will provide the location of your nearest voluntary carer, where veterinary treatment will be given if necessary. In the heat of summer it is even more important to act quickly, the risk of de-hydration is very high.
