What has happened to our Sunshine Coast? We seem to have had rain most of 2022. With a little wind added to the downpours of rain our WILVO Hotline 5441 6200 volunteers have been extra busy.
Holidays are hard times for our native animals as we saw the increase in road accident victims, often leading to orphaned joeys, along with more birds coming into care from car strike, domestic animal attack and fishing line entanglement. Plastic bags not only impact the environment, but also cause so much injury and death for our wildlife.
We were fortunate to have the Australia Zoo Rescue Vehicle on call over the Christmas New Year holidays as it is a time of motor vehicle accidents for our macropods. Adult kangaroos and wallabies with badly crushed bones often need to be euthanized. These animals will do their best to disguise the fact that they are injured, as this would lead to interest from predators. There was a difficult case at Dunethin Rock where I waited for the Australia Zoo Rescue Team to arrive, watching the kangaroo in case it moved out of sight. It would mean a slow death for animals that disappear into the bush. Even if the result is euthanasia I feel incredible relief for these poor creatures who endure so much pain and disguise it so well.
WILVOS are so appreciative of members of the public who rescue little joeys from dead mothers, and call our Hotline or take them to nearby wildlife hospitals. Most people now understand that joeys have to be carefully checked in the pouch to make sure that the joey is not still attached to the mother’s teat. Without slow careful removal from the teat, joeys can suffer irreparable damage. With furless joeys, it is best for an experienced person to do this. It is always a good idea to carry a pillowslip and disposable gloves in your car. Pillowslips are great to transport most animals comfortably when suspended from the headrest, with a blanket or towel wrapped around the outside.
For anyone wishing to train as a wildlife carer, Hotline operator or transporter, there is an induction day on Sunday 6th February. For details, email
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au