The Rescue Collective

23/03/2025

🌳 It’s National Eucalypt Day! 🌳
You might be surprised to learn that the oldest eucalypt fossils are found in Patagonia (Argentina & Chile). PNG, Indonesia, & Philippines have a sprinkling of native species, but the vast majority of the 800 species are native to Australia.

Fire has been a natural seasonal cycle in Australia for millennia. Most of our eucalypts need fire & have evolved perfectly to fuel & survive it. Here are some hot eucalypt facts:
🔥 They usually won’t burn in winter, no matter how hard fire tries.
🔥 They drop leaves & branches every year just before fire season, which dry out to provide the perfect fuel for intense fire.
🔥 Some have bark hanging off in strips or high levels of oil in leaves & twigs, all of which catch fire very quickly, creating embers. The trees have open crowns that use a fire’s updraught to pull the embers up to quickly spread the fire far & wide.
🔥 Some need heat to pop open their gumnuts, releasing the seeds. Some seeds need smoke to activate them.
🔥 Most have bark that doesn’t burn through, protecting the tree & its ability to regenerate.
🔥 After damage from fire/drought/plague/disease, trees regenerate via epicormic buds that sprout new growth along the trunk & branches, & lignotubers that sprout new growth at the base of the trunk. These shoots can grow up to 27cm a day initially, then slow down to about 6m a year.
🔥 Recent fire+ash means fewer insects eating shoots & less competition for nutrients from other plants.

The cycle of fire is needed for these fire-renewing, eucalypt-heavy biomes to survive long term. 🔄🌏

📷 Daria Nipot

22/03/2025

Did you know that by entering our raffle, you’re directly supporting our fundraising efforts whilst having the chance of the big prize? 💖

This week’s raffle winner is SIMONE W, who just took home $2,000! 🎊

Thank you for being part of something amazing.

Together, we’re making a real difference. 💪

Join NOW 👉 www.club-draws.com/charity/rescuecollective 👈

21/03/2025

🦖🐊🐿️🦔🐍🦤🦔🦘

20/03/2025

Only one more sleep...

And here's a sneak peak of some of the prizes you can win at the fundraising Bingo Night at the Wellers Hill Bowls Club tomorrow - along with a HUGE THANK YOU to all these local businesses making the night possible:

Michael Nolan Property

Tarragindi Community Garden

Wellers Hill Bowls Club

The Wine Emporium

Dakota’s Doggy Design

Wild about Wildlife Children’s Activity Book

Good Things Grocer

QTC - Queensland Tennis Centre



vend_annerley

Wellers Hill Terry White Chemmart

Seafresh Tarragindi

Computer Alliance

Print Systems Australia

20/03/2025

Are we losing our possums? Because it looks like they’re in real strife as they continue to face increasing threats that will impact their survival.

What are the challenges?

👉 Urban development and deforestation (perhaps that should read destruction?) are shrinking the possums' homes, leaving them vulnerable and isolated.
👉 Predators particularly introduced species pose a significant threat, especially to young possums.
👉 Extreme weather events and climate change are impacting food sources and habitat suitability.
👉 Road trauma as possums are often hit by cars when crossing roads in search of food or new territory.

Why should we care?

Because they more than just cute faces. They're essential for:

👉 Helping our forests regenerate with seed dispersal and pollination.
👉 Controlling insect populations, maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
👉 Nutrient cycling contributing to soil health.

What can you do to help?

👉 Protect their habitat by supporting initiatives that conserve and restore native forests.
👉 Control introduced predators by keeping cats indoors and support fox control programs.
👉 Drive carefully, being mindful of ALL wildlife, especially at night.
👉 Get involved and join local conservation groups and participate in citizen science projects.
👉 Spread the word and educate your friends and family about the importance of possums.

Don’t let good advice stop there, please SHARE this post to raise awareness and let's make a difference for Australia's possums!

Photograph: Robert Pyne
https://www.facebook.com/
Robert Pyne Nature Photographer
Instagram:

18/03/2025

Let this sink in….

17/03/2025

We love these hacks from tanyahomeinspo

16/03/2025

CYCLONE FUNDRAISER UPDATE
With your help, we raised $13, 825!!!
Thank you to all that donated, shared and spread the love. As always, without you, there would be no us.

While it has been a hectic week since Ex-cyclone Alfred, with cleanups and call outs galore for our carers and rescuers, we are somewhat pleased to say, it could have been a whole lot worse. The need for support has luckily been less than we anticipated as has been the number or affected animals (we were preparing for worst case scenario)…

Since the weather system hit northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland, we’ve bought in, and sent out over $5k of formula and hydration fluids alone. We’ve spent $500 on fruit, veg and juice to support feed those with wildlife cutoff from supplies or inundated with animals from the event.

We will continue to spend your precious donations on animals affected by this event, and any leftover will be spent on equipment to plan for the next weather event or natural disaster.

The road to recovery, while not as long as many disasters around the world, still lies ahead.

Reminder:
Not a single cent of your donations goes to admin costs or our own pockets. ALL Rescue Collective team members are 100% volunteers receiving no wage or remuneration for their work. We do it for the love of it. We do it for those without a voice; the animals, the future of our country and its ecosystem. We do it to leave a legacy for years to come….

And we know, we couldn’t do any of it without YOU!

We love, and thank you!

📷 Tarah Lee Barry: Stradbroke Island

15/03/2025

Animals, their s*x, and their young.

Definitely a few we didn’t know!

📷 Tim Tim TV

15/03/2025

✨ A big thank you to everyone who entered this week’s charity raffle! And a huge round of applause to our winner, BARBARA Y, who just won $2,000!

Your generosity is making a real impact and we THANK YOU so much for helping us…

Join NOW 👉 www.club-draws.com/charity/rescuecollective 👈

13/03/2025

Possum Magic 🪄

Our possums are nocturnal, using the cover of night for protection from predators and to avoid the heat of the day. Come daylight, they shelter in trees, in hollows, dense leaf, in bushes, fallen logs, under rocks, constructed nests/dreys, dark corners, sheds, plant pots and your roof!

Possum boxes are a boon!
……………
Possums gain entry into roofs because of loose tiles and holes, which can be as small as a tennis ball: Relocated possums die in stressful circumstances. Looking after possums with nest boxes: information & advice, and nest-box providers on the following links:

Compassionate Animal Rescue & Exclusion (CARE). Free advice and guidance available: https://care-aus.com.au/

Nest box advice: https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/info/20287/how_you_can_help_wildlife/642/nest_boxes_for_wildlife

Latrobe University nestboxes have been refined over 30 years of using them within the Sanctuary to provide supplementary habitat for native wildlife: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/wildlife/nesting-boxes

Hollow Log Homes, all of our nesting boxes are hand built by skilled craftspeople on the Sunshine Coast: https://www.hollowloghomes.com.au/

Nest Boxes Australia. Every one of our boxes is manufactured from structural grade exterior plywood, sourced from renewable resources. Boxes are guaranteed not to warp, twist or fall apart: https://www.nestingboxes.com.au/

Habitat Innovation. Habitat’s nest boxes are streets ahead of any other nest boxes available today. Their performance is amazing—they provide a much more stable microclimate, even during extreme heatwaves: https://www.habitatinnovation.com.au/

At Agility Trees, we offer wildlife box supply and installation as part of our services. We can install both nest boxes and wildlife boxes: https://agilitytrees.com.au/services/wildlife-boxes-supply-and-installation/

As well as providing nest-boxes, Melbourne-based Heartwood Habitat, creates hollows in trees: https://heartwoodhabitat.com.au

In Victoria, Miles Geldard has been making habitat boxes for native wildlife for more than 20 years: https://wildlifenestboxes.com.au/

Mens Shed Association — Find a Shed local to you: https://mensshed.org/find-a-shed/?geodir_search=1&stype=gd_place&s
An example, if you’re living in the Melbourne area — https://www.mooroolbarkmensshed.org/possum-boxes-nest-boxes-bird-feeder

Wildlife Victoria is working with Men's Sheds to make nest boxes: each box costs $60 and is suitable for both Brushtail and Ringtail possums: https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/wildlife-information/buy-a-possum-box

Living with possums — https://www.greenadelaide.sa.gov.au/news/2023-possums-in-your-roof
………………….
Making your own possum box —

https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/~/media/Files/Wildlife/RSPCA%20Qld%20possum%20box%20fact%20sheet.ashx

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Native-animals/making-possum-house-nestbox-guide.pdf

11/03/2025

Did you have trees fall during TC Alfred? 🌬🌳

When it’s time to clear them away, check them for hollows (& critters!). Ask if the chainsaw wielder can spare the hollows 🪚

They can be used as nesting boxes! Mother nature does it best, so why not use what she’s provided?

Offer them to wildlife rescues or ask around the men’s sheds & schools if they’re doing any nest box making projects 🔨 Rescues may be interested in some of the other big branches & chunks of trunk for their wildlife rehabilitation enclosures, too.

If you have a partial tree or stump left, consider leaving it in place & cutting a hollow in it 🪵 Also consider leaving some logs with hollows/fissures in your yard for the ground dwellers. You can make it into a garden feature! 🎍

So many of our native species are dependent on tree hollows/fissures for shelter & breeding. We’re talking:

🦦 42% of our mammals
🦎 28% of our reptiles
🦜 17% of our birds
🐟 Even fish, invertebrates, echidnas, amphibians!
They all have different size & shape preferences, too. From tiny microbats & gliders to larger ducks, quolls, & goannas. 🦔🦞🐍🦇🪱🦆🪲🦖🐭🐸 Australian wildlife & Australian tree hollows evolved over millions of years into this symbiotic relationship together.

Many of these species are on our threatened & endangered species lists, so we need to help where we can ☠️😭

Small hollows don’t start forming until trees are 80-120 years old & take literally 100’s of years to form the bigger ones. We’re losing them at a high rate to development, logging, fires, & storms. Let’s give some homes back to our wildlife 🪵🎁🐣

📷 Echidna+bluetongues: Mark Higgins
📷 Microbats: Julie Uhlmann
📷 Possum: Sake Oostra
📷 Antechinus, Python, Frog: Ken Griffiths
📷 Ground hide garden: Alice McGlashan (NestBoxTales)
📷 Owlet-nightjar: David James Champney
📷 Rosella chicks: Daniel van Ras
📷 Rosellas: Hayden Watt
📷 Powerful owls: Blair Venn
📷 Lorikeet: Will O’Brien
📷 Galahs: Keith Lightbody
📷 Kookaburra: Dylan McWhinney

10/03/2025

WETLANDS ARE IMPORTANT

This is important for Australia, given our country's rich and diverse wetland ecosystems. It serves as a reminder to recognise the ecological significance of wetlands and encourages individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to take steps to protect, restore, and conserve them.

Australia is home to a wide variety of wetlands, from mangroves, salt marshes, lakes and rivers to floodplains. These ecosystems provide numerous benefits such as water filtration, flood control, biodiversity support, and carbon storage.

We’re proud to say that Australia is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. World Wetlands Day commemorates the signing of this convention in 1971, reaffirming our commitment to its goals and promoting conservation efforts.

For many indigenous Australians, wetlands hold a deep spiritual and cultural connection. We acknowledge and celebrate these connections and emphasise the value of using traditional knowledge in wetland management. It highlights the importance of sustainable practices, responsible water management, and mitigating threats like pollution and habitat destruction.

There’s no time for complacency…the wetlands of Australia, with their unique ecosystems face significant challenges that demand our attention and action. Together, let’s adopt a pro-active approach by raising awareness and advocating for the protection and restoration of our precious wetland habitats, ensuring they thrive for many generations to come.

Photography by Sara Cottle

08/03/2025

URGENT! DONATIONS NEEDED AS CARERS BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR CYCLONE AFFECTED WILDLIFE

It’s Nicole here, founder of The Rescue Collective with an urgent plea for your help.

Our carers and rescuers officially have the green light to begin the search for animals, with the worst of the cyclone Alfred winds now behind us … we hope.

We need urgent donations to prepare for the influx of emergency support requests for medical supplies, financial aid for vet bills, enclosure repairs and replacements and specialty foods and formulas.

The coming days will no doubt bring in many displaced animals from the rain and high winds that bring with them fallen trees, phenomena, hypothermia, head traumas, lack of food, and even death. We must do everything we can for them in their darkest hours

We must raise essential funds to help these precious animals and their rescuers in their time of need. It’s going to be a long road ahead as we only just begin the to search for the injured.

The time is now.

If you can please write DONE below after donating and please share this post far and wide. We need this to go viral to be able to support all and any requests for support that flood (quite literally) through in the coming weeks.

Donate now to help the animals caught in this cyclone: https://the-rescue-collective.mygiveeasy.com/urgent-help-for-our-wildlife/donatenow

Or donate direct here:

🐨Bank Deposit
ANZ BANK
The Rescue Collective
BSB: 014 289
ACC NO:475 216 462
SWIFTCODE: ANZBAU3M

08/03/2025

🌟 Exciting News! It's time to reveal the winner of the $2000 Weekly Draw! 🌟

Drumroll, please... 🥁

Is it YOU? 🤔

KAREN N Is the lucky winner This Week! Thank you for your incredible support. Together, we make a difference! 💙

Join NOW 👉 www.club-draws.com/charity/rescuecollective 👈

07/03/2025

IMPORTANT CYCLONE NOTICE 🐍

Animals seek higher ground during flood events🛟

If you live near areas that flood, you may end up with some uninvited guests in the form of snakes, especially if there are bushy or rocky areas nearby.
They’re not there to hurt you, they just want shelter so they can survive 🥺 Unfortunately, our nice dry houses offer the perfect shelter.

The best way to deal with these uninvited guests is to keep them outside. How? Remove their entry points!

🐍 Keep outside windows & doors closed

🐍 Bolt your cat/dog doors shut

🐍 Tape up any tears in your fly screen

🐍 Don’t leave your boots outside (snug for sneks – they love little dark hides!)

🐍 Make sure all gaps around doors & windows are solidly blocked off with no spaces to sneak through – e.g. jam towels under there nice & tight, tape cardboard or non-clear plastic to the door & floor, block with sand snakes (the sandy kind, not the snakey kind). They can get through some VERY narrow gaps, so be thorough!

If you find one in your house, try to shut it in the room it’s in, keep your people & animals well away, & call for help. Don’t ever try to shoo a snake away & please don’t try to kill them!!! Snakes will attack if they feel threatened or cornered & this is when the vast majority of bites occur.

Never assume you know the species you’re dealing with. Unless you are absolutely 100% certain, assume it’s a danger noodle & treat it with extreme 🚧caution🚧

Be aware they may be there & don’t freak out if you find one.
Be safe, give them space, coexist until it’s all over & they’ll shuffle off home when the weather clears.
They deserve compassion just like every other animal. 💚

📸 Redland's Snake Catcher

05/03/2025

**URGENT: Help Wildlife Survive Cyclone Alfred's Fury**

Please donate now: https://the-rescue-collective.mygiveeasy.com/urgent-help-for-our-wildlife/donatenow

Cyclone Alfred is hurtling towards Brisbane, expected to make landfall tomorrow (Thursday) night. This category 2 cyclone (that could even upgrade to a category 3 in the next 24 hours) will, without a doubt, unleash a dangerous combination of devastating winds of 180km/h or more, flooding, and ocean swells.

While humans prepare for the worst, countless animals especially those t tree dwelling, like birds, koalas, bats, possums, and gliders are in grave danger of being displaced, severely injured, orphaned… or worse….

The impact zone is The Rescue Collective’s backyard. Within the zone and area that will be affected are 70% of the carers and groups we work closely with – to say that we are in need of urgent donations to prepare is an understatement. The need for our work will be greater than ever in the coming days.

We shudder at the thought of what the aftermath will bring when we are called to provide critical care to the animals of South East Queensland, and our community. The calls for supplies to get through the storm and emergency housing for animals’ are already flooding in.

You can kickstart our emergency appeal by clicking here now: https://the-rescue-collective.mygiveeasy.com/urgent-help-for-our-wildlife/donatenow

Your donation will:

1. **Support carers and rehabilitators**: Many will have lost enclosures, suffer property damage, and need assistance on the other side with necessities like water, power, and emergency feed supplies.

2. **Provide emergency response equipment and medical supplies**: To treat injured wildlife and provide life-saving care

3. **Fuel emergency supply runs and generators**: Ensuring our responders can reach affected areas and provide vital aid.

This is an emergency appeal. We are looking at an absolute tragedy for our wildlife and need to act now. There is not a minute to lose, we have days, if not hours to prepare for our response on the other side.

Every dollar counts, and your contribution, no matter it’s size, will make a significant difference to the lives of our wildlife, our national emblems, our endangered and our vulnerable that suffer this weather event.

Just $5 from each and every one of you would literally be lifesaving. It’s the cost of your next cup of coffee in the morning but one that will help make a huge difference

If you can please write the word DONE below after you have donated and please please share this emergency fundraiser and post far and wide, we, and all that we work for and with would be ever so grateful

Our animals need us!

Please donate now: https://the-rescue-collective.mygiveeasy.com/urgent-help-for-our-wildlife/donatenow