Now that the phone calls are starting to increase, volunteers are bracing for the busy spring months ahead. I guess, looking on the bright side, when the calls for assistance drop dramatically we will see that as an indication that wildlife numbers are declining.
Brushtail possums are combating so many disaster situations at the moment, car impact, pet attacks and poisoning. It is pretty shocking that Australia still has not banned Second Generation Anti-coagulant Rodenticide poison baits (SGARs). A review is due out. The easy fix is not always the best. These poisons are much slower to break down in the animal and therefore pose a far greater risk to other wildlife, pets, and to our waterways and total environment. Birds such as owls, that naturally hunt rodents, are also in danger of slow death if ingesting mice and rats that have consumed these poisons.
For a list of poisons that have less ongoing toxicity read the latest Wildlife Queensland newsletter at wildlife.org.au. Act for Birds is an informative article from Birdlife Australia under Have Your Say on this website. Be informed on a safe way to install these baits in a way that protects your children, your pets and wildlife. Baits are a sickening thought, so personally I like to use a live trap which allows the species to be identified. There are so many little native animals that look so like pest species.
Several possum joeys have arrived in WILVOS care due to so many human impact reasons. In past weeks, it has been rewarding to see new possum carers attend the required workshop and then be trained with a live little possum. Sad little orphans when they arrive in care, these joeys soon become trusting of their carer.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 SCMC WILVOS 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au