Our holidays can impact wildlife…

While we all enjoy the December and January festivities, life is not so much fun for our
native wildlife friends. The WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline has been besieged with calls that
are the end result of our holiday activities.
I think many of us have mumbled obscenities at brush turkeys for their diligence in ‘tidying
up’ our gardens. I’m guilty as charged on that one! I have not been impressed when they’ve
flown into my yard and scared my kangaroo and wallaby joeys. Nevertheless, I have a great
respect for their absolute persistence. This led me to doing more research on these animals
and brush turkeys are definitely worthy of our respect. They are truly unique birds.
Over the holidays it has not been unusual to get multiple calls about brush turkeys being
entangled in fishing line, nets, plastic or having fishing hooks imbedded in their legs. Some
were dragging a metre or two of fishing line behind them, as it cut deeply into their legs.
Keith, one of our wonderful rescuers, sent through some photos. Some were too distressing
to share. The agony these birds must go through.
WILVOS are lucky to have some intrepid brush turkey capturers, and it is not an easy task.
Just when it was thought that a brush turkey had been caught and untangled, and taken to a
wildlife hospital if needed, another call would come through to the Hotline. Not another one!
Often in the same area, the member of the public was asked if the bird was still there. Yes –
so it was another brush turkey trying to escape its chains.
This is just one wildlife species that is affected by our leisure activities. Brush turkeys aren’t
even water birds, so you can imagine the pelican, swan and duck phonecalls that come in, due
to entanglement.
If you are wandering the waterways, on land or in water, it is always good to have a big bag
with you to fill up with the dangerous items littering the countryside. Our native animals will
be forever grateful!
It has been the busiest Christmas and New Year ever for our volunteers but a huge thank you
to all who have taken the time to call WILVOS for help.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 SCMC Q 4560 PH
5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au