Page 3 - 4WD Australia Magazine Wildlife Rescue

SPECIFIC CARE
Echidnas:
Handle with heavy gloves, picking the injured echidna up carefully with two hands grasped at either side of the body (not by the legs). Transport in a secure box (plastic, not cardboard) that the ani- mal cannot possibly escape from.
Check the pouch of dead echidnas for puggles. Either transport the body of the mother with the puggles still in the pouch, or if the puggles are removed place them in a pillowcase.
Echidnas should not be kept warm due to their high sensitivity to heat. Birds:
Wear heavy gloves and try to grasp the bird around the middle with its wings tucked into its body.
Place in a box as close to its size as possible and lined with old tea towels (without loose threads that the bird can snag its claws on).
Make note of where the bird was found so it can be returned to its territory.
Baby birds and fledglings should only be rescued if you are positive the parent will not return to feed them, even if they have fallen from a nest. Place them in a small container and keep them warm. Bats and flying foxes:
These should only be handled if you are positive you can do so without in- curring a bite or scratch; in very rare cases bats may carry a virus that is le- thal to humans.
Lizards and reptiles:
Wear heavy gloves and pick up firmly just at the back of the neck; do not pick a lizard up by the tail. Place in a small box and keep warm and away from flies. Do not attempt to rescue a snake unless you are positive it is not venom- ous and you know how to handle it. Turtles:
Make sure the turtle actually needs to be rescued; wear heavy gloves and grasp firmly on both sides of the shell. Place in a suitable box.
Possums:
For adults, place a towel over the injured animal to calm it and pick it up by the base of the tail and scruff of the neck. Place in a pillowcase and tie closed.
Check the pouch of dead possums for babies. If a baby is on the teat, trans- port it and the dead mother. If it can be removed from the pouch, do so care- fully and place it in a wool sock or hat. Keep warm either directly against your own body or by using a warm hot water bottle—external warmth is required as the baby will not warm up on its own.
Make a note of the exact location where the possum was found as they are highly territorial.
Bandicoots:
Same procedure as for possums but be sure not to pick it up by its tail. Kangaroos:
Stop in a safe place.
Approach the animal with caution as kangaroos can and will use powerful back legs to deliver a dangerous kick
even when severely injured.
Check for a pouch. A bulge or move-
ment may indicate live young. For smaller marsupials, leave the joey in the pouch and transport the dead or injured mother to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator. For larger species, gently remove the joey; if needed, cut the pouch open to do so. If the joey is fastened to a teat, cut the teat off as far down as possi- ble and leave it in the joey’s mouth. An elongated teat indicates that a joey was present, so a search of the area is worthwhile.
Kangaroos with leg fractures can- not be saved, they should be humanely euthanized as soon as possible, prefer- ably by shooting; assistance with this may be received from nearby farmers, police, rangers or by ringing a wildlife care line.
Thank you for caring about Australia’s unique and very special wildlife. Koalas and wombats:
Approach with care and try to place a box or basket over the injured animal. Ideally, ring a rescue/carer to come and get the koala or wombat. If you have to rescue it yourself, cover it gently with a blanket or towel to calm it before you pick it up with caution. Place in a box or pillowcase from which it cannot escape.
If there is a baby in the pouch, trans- port it and the dead or injured mother to a carer. If it can be removed from the pouch without pulling it off a teat, wrap it in a wool jumper and keep warm close to your skin.
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