When finding a native animal in distress it will be in shock and extremely stressed. Native animals do not show stress like domestic pets, they will be silent, trying to hide their injuries, as when in the wild an injured animal is easy prey.
If it is in your yard, lock up any domestic pets, even if you feel your pet may not be a risk to the animal, just being there is enough to stress the native animal, and stress can kill.
Native animals are not used to being handled by humans, improper handling can cause injury. The animal will struggle, and may hurt itself more.
Do NOT try to give it water or food, it will not want to eat, just like you would not want a meal after an accident. Call Wires or your nearest wildlife organisation as soon as possible. Most Australian female Marsupials have a pouch, please check the pouch of any female marsupial even if she is already dead, the joey may be alive.
Please do not be tempted to care for native animals yourself, unfortunately it inevitably ends in disaster, as native animals need specialist care, and specialised food. All Wires carers are trained to care for these animals, if you are interested in native animals why not become involved with Wires.
Please send us an email for more information or call us on (02) 66281898Remember: It is against the law to keep native animals taken from the wild. They must be passed onto a licensed carer, National Parks or wildlife rescue organisation. It can be exciting for children having a native animal, and very tempting to want to look and explore. PLEASE do not allow children access to the injured animal, it is already in shock, it looks at us as a large predator, so any undue handling is only going to stress it more and stress is a killer for native animals. Place a towel or similar over the animal, put in a box in a dark, warm quiet room and DO NOT DISTURB.
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Please cover the box, remember the bird will be in shock, so any noise or disturbance will further shock the animal. Keep it away from domestic pets. Many birds are territorial, so make sure you take note of the exact spot you found the bird, as it will have to be returned to be released. Phone Wires as soon as possible, and they will let you know what to do next. Juvenile birds are often left unattended for short periods of time while the parent birds may be foraging for food. If you see a young bird alone, observe for a little while and make sure there is no parent about, also look for a nest near by. The bird may have fallen out, in which case you may be able to put it back in the nest. Birds WILL accept their young back after being handled by humans. Featherless birds will need heat, you can place a WARM water bottle in a box, cover the water bottle with towels,and place the young bird in something resembling a nest. For example ice cream container or small basket. Cover the box, keep in a quiet dark place and call Wires as soon as possible. Please DO NOT give the bird anything to eat or drink. |
Make note of the exact spot, as possums are territorial and will have to be returned at time of release. Pease DO NOT give the animal anything to eat or drink, it is in shock no matter what may have happened to it. Please call Wires or your nearest wildlife care organisation as soon as possible. A young possum joey will require a pouch, this can be made from a pillow case, or jumper, as long as the possum feels secure and can not look out, it will feel less stressed by the situation. An Un-furred possum joey will need heat, this can be achieved by a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel or similar, put the joey in the pillow case near the water bottle. Check the temperature to make sure you are not cooking the joey. Some possums like Ringtails usually have more then one young, so please check pouch and surrounding area. Young possums travel on mums back, so there may be a young hiding close by. It will not be able to fend for itself and will need to come in to care.
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Injured or orphaned young pouch animals must be placed as soon as possible in something resembling a pouch, it is important that they feel secure. If the animal is un furred it must also be kept warm, not hot, but similar to your own body temperature. A warm water bottle can be placed in a box, cover the water bottle with one or more towels as the temperature can increase fairly fast, place the pillowcase or whatever you use to make the artificial pouch on top of the towel. Check the temperature regularly to ensure the animal is not being overheated. Overheating can cause many problems later on. Please DO NOT give the animal anything to eat or drink. Native animals can not tolerate cows milk, or soy milk, they need special formula, damage can be done by feeding them unsuitable food. Call Wires 02 66281898 or your nearest wildlife care organisation as soon as possible for advice.
Echidnas that have been injured by cars, dog attacks etc etc MUST be taken to a veterinary clinic and X-rayed, it is impossible to examine these animals properly without X-ray as you can not feel broken bones as in other animals due to the spines. Echidnas do however have a skeleton just like any other animal, and bones break just as easy in this species as in any other, difference is, we can not feel or see it without X-ray. They may look just fine, move normally, as they will not show their injury. An injured animal knows it is in big trouble, and as such will hide their pain, trying to fool predators. Echidna's can not tolerate temperatures above 30 degrees, please ensure if transporting an Echidna that temperature is below 30 degrees. Best to transport in the cool of the morning or evening on hot days and or add an ice pack to the container to keep temperatures down
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Kangaroos,
Wallabies, Bandicoots, Possums and Gliders all have pouches, even Echidnas
will develop a "pouch"in which they carry the egg and
later on the tiny echidna 'puggle', until such time that
it develops its quills. 
Updated April 26, 2008
© WIRES Northern Rivers 2004-2008