- Wildlife welfare after wildfires
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contacts for Wildlife Shelters
- Information for Wildlife Rescue Volunteers
| Wildlife can be injured during bushfires. The Department of Sustainability and Environment works with suitably qualified and experienced wildlife care organisations and rehabilitators to assist with the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation and release of wildlife affected by fire. In fire-affected areas, surviving wildlife will be disoriented, smoke-affected, hungry and severely dehydrated. Many animals will likely to be suffering burns to some degree. Wildlife may also be displaced by fires and wander into populated areas. Residents can place containers or water above ground in a safe and shady area to assist stressed wildlife in fire-affected areas Following any bushfire, DSE will undertake assessments, monitor wildlife recovery and assist in restoration of their habitats. Wildlife rescue teams are on stand-by to assist in fire-affected areas to treat wildlife. Individuals encountering sick, injured or orphaned wildlife should call either of the following numbers. Experienced operators can offer advice and arrange assistance. Wildlife welfare after wildfires To find out about the care of wildlife injured by bushfires download the brochure Fire and biodiversity - Responding to fire affected wildlife  Responding to fire affected wildlife (PDF - 140 KB)Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a list of Victorian wildlife shelters are available in the following PDF, and in the list below. Note that this information applies to native wildlife affected by fires only. Wildlife Welfare 2009 Victorian Bushfires 12 Feb 2009 (PDF - 42 KB) |   |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I have found an injured native animal suffering burns. What do I do?
When dealing with injured or orphaned wildlife after wildfires, it is important not to frighten or try to catch them.
All wild animals should be treated with caution, especially when they are distressed and injured.
Untrained members of the public should only tend to those animals that are severely injured or unlikely to be able to care for themselves. Wild animals that may bite, or are otherwise dangerous (e.g. venomous snakes), should only be handled by trained wildlife carers or handlers.
If the animal is small:
- Place it in a pillow case or cloth bag.
- Place this in a box a little larger than the animal.
- Place the box in a shady /cool place.
- Contact a wildlife shelter number at the bottom of this sheet and arrangements will be made to collect the animal.
If the animal is large:
- Keep clear of the animal and attempt to leave it undisturbed (i.e. keep pets away and unnecessary vehicle traffic).
- Note its location and apparent difficulty.
- Contact a wildlife shelter number at the bottom of this sheet and describe the situation. The carer will then offer advice on how to proceed.
Untrained members of the public should only provide initial care to injured wildlife.
Ideally, they should take the animal as quickly as possible to a qualified vet or carer. The long-term care and rehabilitation of native animals is best done by experts.
In line with Victorian law, you need to be a licensed and trained carer to rehabilitate wildlife.
You may best assist by providing financial support to wildlife welfare organisations which need medicines and equipment.
3. What is DSE doing to prevent suffering of wildlife injured during fires?
DSE is coordinating the rescue by wildlife welfare organisations to ensure that this is being conducted safely and that immediate care goes to the animals in most need.
Department officers are assisting rescuers where appropriate and are humanely destroying suffering animals that cannot be rescued or are unlikely to survive rehabilitation.
DSE are providing advice on the locations and habitats of threatened species to guide fire prevention work.
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4. Can I destroy suffering wildlife affected by fire?
All wildlife is protected. However where animals are so badly injured that they cannot be successfully rehabilitated, it is appropriate to humanely destroy them provided it is safe to do so and it is carried out in a humane and decisive manner. If you are a licensed firearm user you must be exceedingly careful in using firearms. You must not discharge a firearm in a populous place, from or on roads, or on or across private property without the permission of the owner or occupier.
Any vet who assesses an animal as unfit for treatment and rehabilitation may euthanase affected wildlife without the need for a permit.
5. Can I make donations to assist wildlife welfare organisations?
Please refer to the list of animal welfare organisations at the end of this document. Further details can be found on the website of each organisation.
6. What else can I do to protect animals affected by fire?
Native wildlife is particularly vulnerable following a bushfire, due to injuries and reduced food and shelter.
- Lock up domestic animals (e.g. cats, dogs) to stop them preying on or harassing native wildlife.
- Provide water for wildlife. Place a stick or rock in the container to prevent animals from being trapped or drowning in deep containers.
- Drive carefully through burnt out areas to protect remaining wildlife.
- Refrain from providing hay as feed for wildlife in burned bushland to reduce the spread of weeds and the subsequent degradation of wildlife habitat. In non-natural areas it may be possible to provide food for distressed wildlife however this should be done in consultation with wildlife care agencies to ensure that foods are as close to a natural diet as possible. Wildlife should not be attracted to areas where they may be vulnerable to predation by foxes and domestic pets.
You must not enter fire affected areas unless you are trained and under the supervision of fire authorities.
8. Who do I contact to get assistance for burned wildlife?
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Contacts for Wildlife Shelters
Please contact wildlife shelters on:
Statewide:
Help for Wildlife
24 hr emergency service 0417 380 687
www.helpforwildlife.com
RSPCA
General enquiries (03) 9224 2222, or contact your
local shelter
www.rspcavic.org
Wildlife Victoria
24hr Hotline 13 000 94535 or 13000Wildlife
www.wildlifevictoria.org.au
WRIN Wildlife Rescue and Information Network
0419 356 433
www.wrin.asn.au
WRES Wildlife Rescue Emergency Service
0427 301 401
www.wres.org.au
BADGAR Emergency Wildlife and Rescue
1300 223427 or 1300BADGAR
www.wildlifeshelter.org.au
Local:
AWARE
24 Hr Rescue Hotline and General Inquiries 0412 433 727
www.awarewildlife.org.au
*Contact the hotline if you find injured wildlife in the AWARE area (Frankston to Melbourne encompassing the Oakleigh-Springvale and Dandenong-Cranbourne region. AWARE increasingly attend rescues on the Mornington Peninsula)
South Oakleigh Wildlife Group for all south eastern suburbs of Melbourne
0411 600 591
Healesville Sanctuary is accepting native wildlife for treatment.
59 57 2829.
RACV Wildlife
Connect number 13 11 11.
RACV Wildlife Connect provides a central 24-hour telephone service for any Victorian motorist who hits or enounters injured wildlife on the road. However, following the bushfires, this service has been extended to anyone who encounters injured wildlife. Callers to the Wildlife Connect number will be connected to a volunteer from one of the wildlife rescue services who will provide help and advice.
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Information for Wildlife Rescue Volunteers
DSE and CFA in conjunction with volunteer wildlife rescue groups and carers, have developed a set of protocols for working together at fires to ensure that wildlife rescuers have access to fire grounds as soon as practicably possible to assist injured wildlife, and that they remain safe during recovery operations.
Wildlife rescue groups and volunteers should ensure that they are familiar with these protocols, have the appropriate training and safety gear when attending all fires areas and have contacted DSE or CFA before entering any fire area.
Wildlife rescue volunteers working with DSE must have successfully completed the National Short Course ‘Course in Basic Wildfire Awareness’; have a current Wildlife Shelter Permit, foster carer authorisation or veterinary qualifications, or be accompanied by someone who does; and wear and use DSE-approved personal protective equipment (PPE).
Irrespective of whether an individual meets the above minimum requirements, all volunteers involved in wildlife rescue operations may only enter the fireground with the approval of the Incident Controller.
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