EMERGENCY CARE
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What do I do if I find sick,
injured or orphaned wildlife?
Finding a sick,
injured or orphaned native animal is
very stressful for BOTH
the animal and you! There are a few
simple things that you can do to
immediately minimise stress and
increase the animal's chance of
recovery.
Check for Young
Always check the
pouches, and around the bodies of
dead females on the road. Most
people are very surprised to learn
that, despite the extensive injuries
to female marsupials killed on our
roads, the little 'joeys' cocooned
safely inside Mum's pouch very often
survive the impact unharmed. In fact
they're so well insulated that joeys
can survive for up to 10 days in a
dead mother's pouch, and can then go
on to suffer a slow, lingering death
of starvation and dehydration.
Also, young marsupials, if old
enough to leave the pouch,
frequently hang around Mum for many
days, often watching from just a few
metres away in the undergrowth. So
if you've taken the time to stop and
check a mother, please take just a
couple of minutes more to check the
immediate surrounding area for the
Joey.
First Aid
The basic first
aid for native animals is very
similar to domestic animals or
people. By applying basic first
treatment you might be able to save
an animal's life. The major
differences are that a wild animal
only comes into physical contact
with other species, which includes
humans, as a part of predator or
prey association.
Therefore, any contact with
humans will be very stressful and
frightening. Trying to comfort the
animal by
stroking it or talking to it might
even stop the heartbeat. You'll need
to give special consideration to
transportation of the animal. You
may even have to feed the animal and
supply temporary housing for it
until it gets into proper care.
The animal should be kept warm
depending on the season, in a quiet
and dark place such as a cardboard
box. After the first aid treatment,
the animal should be taken to a
veterinarian as soon as possible.
There may be internal injuries that
are not visible to the untrained
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Safety
- Your own safety is most important,
especially whilst checking the
injured animal on the road.
- Evaluate the situation and
remove any immediate threat to
the animal.
- Make sure that your car is
parked safely well off the road.
It's not good saving an animal
hit by a car if YOU get hit by
another car!
- If necessary, lock away dogs
and cats (to alleviate stress)
until a trained rescuer arrives.
- You may need to ask someone
to stop or divert traffic if the
animal is on the road.
Airways & Breathing -
Check that the animal is breathing.
- If not breathing, open and
inspect the mouth, remove any
blood, vomitus or other
obstruction as these may be
preventing the animal from
breathing freely.
- If the animal is breathing,
roll the animal onto their side
to drain the airway. The mouth
and nose should be pointing
downwards, making sure that the
head and neck are extended to
allow a clear airway.
- Be cautious of teeth. Even
injured animals can bite!
Consciousness - Check
responses by checking pulse or
breath.
- Place unconscious animals in
a position with the head above
the level of the stomach to
prevent choking.
Circulation - Stop
external bleeding.
- Major arterial bleeding can
be stopped by applying a
pressure bandage. Make sure that
it is not too tight so as to
restrict the animal's breathing.
- Internal bleeding is hard to
stop, but if the animal is kept
quiet and undisturbed, the
normal clotting mechanism will
take care of minor problems.
- A needlessly struggling
animal will have an increased
blood pressure, producing more
bleeding.
Maintain Body Temperature
- Place the animal in a soft towel
or cloth to keep it warm.
- The fabric should be without
holes as the animal may become
entangled.
- Gently place the animal in a
box then place this box in a
dark, quiet room - away from
pets, TV, radio etc.
- PLEASE - DO NOT DISTURB as
stress associated with human
contact can result in a sudden
death.
- DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED!
Wildlife diets are highly
specialized and the wrong foods
can cause illness or even death.
Seek Advice - If you live
in Tropical North Queensland, call
FNQ Wildlife Rescue on (07) 4053
4467.
- The Wildlife Rescue
emergency number is manned 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. We
will assess the animal and,
depending on that assessment,
take the animal to a vet or a
wildlife foster carer.
- All of our carers are fully
trained in the rehabilitation of
native animals through
workshops, hands on experience,
mentoring programmes and
constant feedback. Rest assured
your animal will go to the right
person for the best chance of a
speedy recovery.
If you have followed the steps
outlined above, you have given the
animal the best chance it has
towards a speedy rehabilitation and
release back into the wild.
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Orphaned
Wildlife
Resist the
temptation to cuddle the animal
- they are not used to human
contact.
DO NOT try to care
for the animal yourself - All
Australian animals in care require a
highly specialised and intensive
feeding programme.
- Specialized
diet, quantities and frequencies
are required, especially for "pinky"
Joeys.
- A lot need
urgent veterinary attention
(that may not be immediately
obvious).
- Many need
specialised housing requirements
such as exact heating, perching,
bedding and sometimes humidity.
- ALL require a
complex rehabilitation
programme.
It is illegal
to keep a native animal without a
rescue permit. If you are
interested in becoming a wildlife
carer, we would love to hear from
you. Simply complete our online
Enquiry
Form.
If you find an
orphaned, sick or injured native
animal, please contact our 24 Hour
emergency hotline on (07) 4053 4467
as soon as possible after you have
stabilized the animal (using the
steps outlined in the
First Aid
Guide for Wildlife). The faster
the animal comes into care, the
better the chances of a full and
successful recovery. Every minute
counts.
One final
note.....
Yes, they are
cute, helpless and 'different', and
there are of course a few
exceptions, but please remember -
- It is illegal
in most cases (heavy penalties
apply) to hold native wildlife
without a permit.
- Due to
strange territorial behaviour,
specialised diet, housing,
social behaviour and often
'unsocial hours' wildlife
basically make poor pets.
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