Sometimes a call will come through the WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline that has quite an emotional impact. After dealing with so many wildlife tragedies, carers and rescuers are ready to expect the worst when attending to an injured animal on the side of the road.
It always hits hardest after seeing habitat destroyed, followed by the ensuing injuries and deaths on the nearby roadsides. New homes are not easy to find these days for wildlife. The small pockets of trees left after housing developments are completed, are about enough to house a flea!
Recently a couple of our carers responded to a call for a possum hit on the road running beside the Steggalls Road development in Yandina. Both said it was one of the saddest calls they’d ever attended. The beautiful big majestic short-eared brushtail, weighing around four kilograms, had died from her injuries and just a couple of metres away her backriding joey of almost a kilogram was also dead. These possums, formerly known as mountain brushtails or bobucks are one of our largest possums and are such muscly, healthy animals that look indestructible. They are also the most loving and trusting of all the possum species. The joeys are so gentle and often cry for their mothers for the first couple of days in care.
What a sad waste of two lovely animals. These are just two of the many native animals now being hit by cars along Old Gympie Road and Steggalls Road. Scores of houses have replaced the once beautiful bushy hectares of habitat.
What happens next? An occasional resident will complain about possums in their roof or in their yard, inconveniencing them by making their dogs bark. These poor animals are searching for a new home after being displaced. I don’t think the few token nesting boxes put up will solve the problem.
It’s holiday time so please drive carefully, take home any plastic bags, pick up that fishing line and cut it into small pieces before disposing of it. Small things can make a big difference.
Have a wonderful 2021. We are all ready for a New Year brimming with health and happiness! Thank you again to all our lovely loyal supporters.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au