Fire Season
What YOU can do.
Hello everyone, I thought it might be timely to write this now as I wont have much more time after this to sit.
I wanted to let you know what you can do as a member of the public for your local wildlife and your local wildlife wildlife shelters during this years heat and fire season.
Firstly, a few of the Dont's
Please DONT pick up any animal if you dont have a towel or gloves to protect you with. Even a highly dehydrated and listless seeming animal can turn and will attack if afraid.. Call for help first, and they will give you some instructions if absolutely necessary, but really, the best thing you can do is OBSERVE and ASSESS.
In a critical emergency where an animal is bleeding or fitting and there is just no time to wait, please take the animal straight to the nearest vet.
Please please please DONT feed any heat distressed animal. It makes them very sick if they eat while extremely dehydrated.. A plate of fresh water offered or set beside them is usually enough until we arrive.
Please DONT cover an animal in anything plastic this includes those black recycling bins, buckets or crates. It acts like a sauna and the animal will die at worst, or require a longer period of intervention at least.
Please DONT call rescue services for general enquiries during fire season. It clogs the phones and makes getting to injured native animals in need harder. For swooping birds call Nigels Animal Rescue, for domestic animals, your local council.
Please DONT take any animal into your home for any length of time. This is a breech of the Wildlife Act and you can be fined, I'd hate for a wonderful gentle hearted person to have to fork out for a fine for doing something caring.
So that said..here are some heatwave and fire season DO's.
Please DO familiarize yourself with Wildlife Law and understand that taking a native animal into your home for any length of time is illegal.
Please DO leave out water in your yard - somewhere inaccessable by dogs and cats. Maybe throw some fruit on high places if you notice there are possums or other critters hanging about looking pekid.
Please DO get to know your local vet even if you have no animals yourself. Ask them if they are willing to take in injured wildlife and give them the number 1300 BADGAR or 1300094535 for Wildlife Victoria
Please DO write down these numbers and put them in your wallet glovebox and fridge.
Please DO include your kids in understanding, share with them about the species that are in our local area, guide them in identifying them and how to help them in a pinch.
Please DO visit your local shelter now while it is quieter and ask if you can put your name down to help out during the heat and fire season. While donations of money for drugs and ongoing care costs are so urgently needed and very wonderful ( thank you) what really helps too is bodies on the ground who are informed and willing to be directed and to help out consistantly. It helps us for you to understand what and why we do.
Please DO volunteer. People who are really willing to offer their time when it counts are saints during crisis times. Just please know your own limits and that we also have rules we have to follow too as regards animals in care so while you mightnt be able to feed a joey, you can help that joey to live by helping it and its carer get though the day. Making up formula's, washing bottles, juicing fruits etc...every little bit helps...is critical.
So come talk to us about what you can do and for how long. Things like - hunting for forrage for the animals in care, ( a daily need) cutting up fruit and veg ( please yes donate fruit:) cage cleaning ( yes please donate old newspaper) cutting up towels and even taking garbage and old forrage away for us are very very useful supportive duties and time saving for us too.
Please DO think outside the box. Have you thought about the carers themselves? Can you cook a good BBQ or donate a box of drinks or a casserole? Sometimes we forget to stop and eat when things get busy so if you feel you can do any of these things and want to get involved, you CAN be of direct help..and we'd welcome you with open arms.
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What if there is no one else?
In an emergency with a wild animal it is good to know what not to do as it is to know what to do. Here is a link to how to help a range of animals be they injured or in heat distress. We urge you to first call and get an estimate of time to pick up before you implement any of these tips.
Click on this link below to scroll through the list to access the relevent information for the animal you have located.
The Twins..."Molly" and "Pete"
