Australian Fires: Aiding Wildlife

In the wake of the devastating Australian fires, you may come across injured or heat-stressed animals. Here is how you can help them.

By Linda Lee Rathbun -
0
Australian fires

The terrible Australian fires have devastated us all. Those of us lucky enough to have travelled this unique country have had the privilege of encountering native wildlife, and of visiting landscapes that have now been utterly destroyed by the fires.

RVers have been impacted, too, having to flee areas and to wonder where they can safely travel and camp. As things settle, we may also wonder what we can do to help.

Currently, there are state park, state forest reserves and national park closures across the country. You may not, and should not, enter these areas. However, as an RVer, you may come across heat-stressed or injured wildlife in other areas, or you may choose to look for heat-stressed or injured wildlife in areas you are permitted to safely access. Here is some information on what you can do to help:

BE PREPARED

Be familiar with the proper way to help wildlife until you can find professional rescue assistance. Many of the websites listed below include extensive information on what to do; for example, the NSW WIRES https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information Rescue Assistance page at the bottom includes rescue information for birds, koalas, microbats, possums, flying-fox, snakes, lizards and turtles, kangaroos and wallabies, monitor lizards, raptors and wombats.

The Kanyana Wildlife Glove Box Guide is an excellent document to print up and keep in your vehicle (along with the contact details in this document).

Australian fires
A heartbreaking number of koalas have been lost to these devastating Australian fires.

Be prepared. Keep some basic aids in your vehicle at all times. This includes towels to place over an animal so you can pick it up, pillow cases to put joeys in, ventilated cardboard boxes (collapsed with tape on hand), a torch, heavy gloves, poultry scissors, hand sanitiser, and non-toxic paint to mark an animal whose pouch has been checked (so others don’t have to re-check it).

OFFERING WATER

When you find a heat-stressed animal, do not give it food but you can gently offer it water. Some sources say injured animals should not be offered water, but some vets say they should.

Australian fires
A gray-headed flying fox.

In any case, no food should be offered. We rescued a flying-fox from a barbed wire fence once (we had heavy gloves and plenty of experience) and when we offered it water, it literally grabbed for the bottle and desperately drank. Most of us have seen videos of koalas seeking water provided by people.

AUSTRALIAN FIRES: ANIMALS ON THE ROAD

If the animal is near or on the road, pull over if it is safe to do so and remove the animal from the road. This will prevent raptors feeding on the carcass and in turn becoming roadkill. Check the pouch of female marsupials and if the mother is dead, gently remove the joey and place it in a dark, warm place (a pillowcase and then a box lined with a towel).

Australian fires
An orphaned grey kangaroo.

If the joey is on a teat, do not pull the joey off but rather cut the teat out with the joey still attached (not fun, but better than leaving the joey to die).

SNAKES

Do not handle snakes, monitors, or any species of bats or flying-fox unless you are an expert. Contact one of the numbers below for assistance and/or advice.

NOTE YOUR LOCATION

Make a note of exactly where you are if a carer or ranger is coming to help (or to euthanise an animal). This can include using your GPS to mark your location (latitude and longitude), taking note of a mile marker or a pole with a number on it, or even waiting for the help to arrive.

FINDING HELP

For wildlife rescue near wherever you might be, go to Fauna Search, www.fauna.org.au, and type your post code into the search box (with the magnifier icon). They have contact details for numerous regional carers.

If possible, transport the injured animal to the carer; most of them are so busy that taking the time to drive to a rescue is time away from other animals and duties.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

For state wildlife rescue advice and help, the following assistance is available:

Many of these sites have information on what you can do to help; they are all in need of monetary donations, goods (for example), pouches (get those knitting needles out), cotton bedding, wildlife food, etc.

Australian fires
View from Katoomba Lookout in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Much of the Blue Mountains have been burned by the Australian fires.

The impact on wildlife has been catastrophic, and soon, the task of restoring ecosystems will begin, and probably last a very long time.

It is tragic to think of forests filled with eucalyptus trees that once stood tall and are now burnt to the ground. While it is true that many eucalypts regenerate with fire, these fires have raged with such vigour that they may need help. What a perfect opportunity for we RVers to help. 

For example:

  • The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has a Plant a Tree for Me project that welcomes volunteers; contact them for details.
  • Trees for Life offers workshops that will teach you the skills needed to become a volunteer with them.
  • The Trillion Trees organisation in Western Australia is always seeking volunteers for various tree-planting projects.
  • One Tree Planted plants trees around the world and is receiving donations that will allow it to buy seedlings in Australia to be planted when fire-affected areas are safe and the soil is able to accept those seedlings.
  • You can donate money, but you can also donate your time. Sign up to become a Tree Ambassador and when the time is right, One Tree Planted will contact you to assist with tree plantings.
  • The Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie has a ‘koala food’ tree planting project. You can donate funds to plant one or more trees; however, why not volunteer your services as a tree planter? 
  • The World Wildlife Fund’s Two Billion Trees project: how to help, how to get involved and how to work toward a healthier Australia (and planet).
  • The Koala Clancy Foundation has tree-planting days in Victoria where weeds are removed and suitable ‘koala food’ trees are planted. If you own a rural property, the foundation can help you plant koala-friendly trees.
  • Greening Australia has a number of tree-planting projects around the country; if its page on volunteering only presents courses it offers, phone to find out what the volunteer opportunities are.
Australian fires
Tasmanian devils.

VOLUNTEERING

To volunteer in each state’s national parks (this can fit in well with the travelling lifestyle), check:

PARK CLOSURES

To find national park, state park and state forest closures, visit:

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES

Finally, here is information on state emergency services:

Stay safe. Let us all mend our broken hearts by helping to mend Australia and its wildlife in some way, in any way, no matter how small. 

Thank you from everyone at GoRV, and from Linda and Steve.

– Images: Steven David Miller, Natural Wanders

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY