We’re lucky here in Australia to be blessed with so many forms of unique and amazing wildlife!
If you come into contact with hurt or injured wildlife, it’s not always obvious what to do. Read our common Wildlife FAQs and learn important information about protecting our beautiful wildlife and how to help if you find one in trouble.
More than 450 different bird species are found in Victoria, including Cockatoos, Owls, birds of prey, waterfowl and songbirds.
If you find a Fledgling (young birds that have grown all or most of their feathers) on the road, or somewhere very exposed and it is uninjured, place it somewhere nearby where there is cover. Don’t worry, the parent birds will hear it calling so they will find it.
Fledglings are fed by their parents, so they are never far away, probably collecting food. If they see you close by they will not return until you have gone. Go away for at least two hours, when you return you will almost certainly find that the parents have taken care of their youngster.
Fledglings (young birds that have grown all or most of their feathers) leave the nest for a few reasons:
Once the fledglings are on the ground, they may be unable to get back into the nest, as they are not strong enough. Their parents will often continue to feed them however while they are on the ground.
Only handle a bird if it is safe to do so.
There is an ‘old wives tale’ that if you handle a baby bird, the parents will pick up the human scent and abandon the chick. This is not correct. If you have picked up a chick, put it back or nearby where you found it and the parents will provide the care it needs.
If you notice the chick has not been supported by its parents, or has been on the ground for more than one day, please contact the RSPCA for more information or take it to your local vet.
The saliva in the mouths of dogs and cats is toxic to other animals. It takes only a short while for toxicity to set in and it is imperative that a veterinarian sees the injured bird as soon as possible. If vets are not available then try to arrange to get the bird to an animal emergency centre. You should also look into ensuring that your pet has no opportunity to re-offend. Keep dogs and cats confined during dusk, dawn and dark hours.
A bird might be concussed after flying into a window. Put the bird in a box and keep it warm, dark and quiet. In a few hours you can release it outside. If it does not fly away then contact the RSPCA for advice.
Birds will pant and open their wings away from their body which is a sign of heat exhaustion.
Spring brings out the maternal instinct in most animals and unfortunately some birds swoop to protect their territory. The swooping action is the parent birds defending and protecting their young.
Other than wearing a protective hat or carrying an umbrella, there isn’t much you can do. In order to reduce the stress on the parent birds, cross the street to remove yourself from their territory, or change your walking route.
Victoria hosts a wide range of reptilian wildlife, including 27 species of snake. If you see a snake, keep calm, and move yourself and anyone with you (including children and pets) away from the area.
Do not approach the snake, or try to catch or kill it. Most snakes in Victoria are venomous and will strike if provoked.
Contact the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) for advice or your local snake catcher.
The RSPCA receives hundreds of calls every spring regarding ducks and ducklings that have been found walking down the street or in a backyard. If you encounter a situation where you see a family of ducks or ducklings, it’s important to avoid direct intervention.
Ducks are protected by law and it is best to allow the duck to wander around the yard until it has eaten all the slugs and snails and allow it to wander into the next yard when it is ready to do so.
If you have a pool in your yard it would be advisable to supply a ramp for the ducklings, who will be able to get in, but not always out, placing them at high risk drowning.
In the case where a duck is in imminent danger then re-location could be an option. However, some species will not tolerate this and will fly away leaving their ducklings behind. As a last resort, catch the mother duck first, and then gather up the chicks. Release the family in the nearest large garden which has some water such as a pond or lake.
Brushtail and Ringtail possums are native marsupial species that have adapted well to urbanisation and are commonly found dwelling in Australian gardens.
Ringtail possums are a social species that live in nests, called dreys, several metres above the ground. They build them out of bark and leaves and usually dwell in them as a family.
Brushtail possums are larger, more territorial possums that usually reside in tree hollows. The trees and gardens around our houses provide a modified woodland environment similar to their natural habitat and both species feed on native plants found in abundance in suburban gardens.
Do not feed the animal. Cool the animal down to gradually reduce their body temperature back to normal as much as possible. If there is no injury, avoid transporting the animal to a vet as this can increase their stress further. This should be the last resort.
If an animal is convulsing or unconscious it needs to be taken to a vet as soon as possible.
If you have found a baby possum, a sudden change of temperature could be fatal to them. Do not attempt to cool it down, instead wrap the baby in a dry towel or cloth and place it into a makeshift pouch like a sock. Hydrating the baby is the best way to combat heat stress so try to feed the baby water using an eye dropper.
Take it to a carer or shelter as soon as possible as baby possums need constant feeding and care in order to survive.
Place the possum in a dark, quiet area out of the way of dogs or cats that can attack it. If you have a hot water bottle place this under a folded towel and place the possum in a pillow case. If you don’t have a hot water bottle, a plastic bottle filled with warm water will do. Make sure it isn’t too hot. Allow room for the possum to move off the heat if necessary. Do not feed it and contact the RSPCA for advice.
This possum needs urgent veterinary attention. Wrap a towel around the possum and scoop it up into a waiting container such as a box or cat carrier (ensuing it has airholes). If this is not possible then contact the RSPCA for advice.
If you have found a dead possum or any other marsupial the first thing to do is to check its pouch to make sure no babies are inside. If there are babies, do not remove them. Immediately call Wildlife Victoria on 1300 WILDLIFE, or take the body to a local veterinary clinic who will administer the correct treatment.
Any possums that you find can be wrapped up and placed in your wheelie bin for garbage collection; unfortunately there is no collection service for these types of animals. Ensure you wear plastic gloves.
There are many things you can do stop possums from damaging ornamental plants or fruit in your garden, including:
Possums often take up residence in ceiling cavities as they find this spot warm in winter and cool in summer.
If you have possums residing in your roof you should provide them with an alternative home and make sure they have left your roof before preventing them from gaining access to your roof again. Here’s how:
If these steps are unsuccessful and you need further assistance to remove possums from your roof and release them onto your property, you will need to abide by the legal requirements for possum trapping in Victoria. Contact your local possum removal service for more information.
Seeing an iconic Australian native animal in the wild is something special. We should not take these experiences for granted. But remember that unlike livestock and domestic pets, wildlife can be stressed by the presence of humans, so keep a respectful distance and avoid disturbing them.
Stay with the animal (far enough away so it is not distressed by your presence) and call Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535 (13 000 wildlife).
Call the emergency phone for Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535 (13 000 wildlife). The sooner an experienced person can get to the scene, the greater the chance of this young surviving.
Do not feed the animal. Cool the animal down to gradually reduce their body temperature back to normal as much as possible. If there is no injury, avoid transporting the animal to a vet as this can increase their stress further. This should be the last resort.
If an animal is convulsing or unconscious it needs to be taken to a vet as soon as possible.
When picking an animal up, always wear gloves or place material over your hands for protection. Pick the animal up from underneath and place it on an old towel or box dampened with water. Be careful to avoid the animal’s claws, mouth or beak as it may feel threatened and could attempt to defend itself.
Take the animal inside where it is normally 10-12 degrees cooler than the outside. The aim is to remove the animal from the heat for at least a few hours to allow their body temperature to reduce. Keep the animal in a cool dimly lit area.
A shallow container (ie. lid of a jar) can be used to place water in and it is preferred the animal laps at the water themselves. If it is too weak to reach the water, use an eye dropper to give small amounts of water in the mouth.
All dead female wildlife should be checked for orphans. Many people carry spray cans with them to mark an animal that has been checked, if the animal has a bright coloured mark on it then you need not worry, you can drive on.
Where a young is missing from a pouch then a search of the immediate area is needed. An elongated teat inside the pouch indicates that a young was present.
If you cannot find the young then inform the nearest shelter that a young animal is missing – call Wildlife Victoria on 1300 094 535 (13 000 wildlife) or contact your nearest animal shelter.
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