28/11/2024
For all the wildlife affected by the fires, please keep an eye out for our beautiful native fauna ❤️🩹 please call the clinic if you need any assistance on 9652 1973
2nd UPDATE ( apologies for a long post)
Thank goodness the fires are now at advice level. Thank you the amazing firies who worked so hard.
We are planning to travel to Cervantes on Sunday Dec 8th to have a meet and greet at 11am with local people who have expressed an interest in helping. We need a venue if anyone in Cervantes can assist please. Please let us know if you are interested.
Please be aware we are all volunteers and wildlife carers, so organising our wildlife that is currently in care so we can attend can be challenging. We ask for your patience whilst we continue to plan. We rely on members of the public to be observant and report any injured wildlife. Now the noise and vehicles have gone the wildlife will be on the move looking for water, shelter and food. Please be careful on the local roads and tracks. Be observant around your properties and any pockets of unburnt areas.
Here are a few basic tips to help the wildlife
If you live in a fire affected area, here are a few tips
Some species may have escaped the fire by fleeing the area, flying away or from burrowing underground. For those that do survive there will be little water, food or shelter.
It is important that no-one should enter active or seemingly dormant fire grounds to rescue wildlife: leave this to trained, licensed wildlife carers who would work with first responder agencies. It is critical that no-one hinder firefighters or emergency services during this time
Here’s what you can do
Water
• leave out several bowls of varying sizes and depths near any vegetation/shade to provide shelter from predators.
• Place containers away from humans and pets and well away from roads. Do not put the containers too close to each other to help avoid predation
• Leave a stick or stone to allow the little critters a way out if they fall in
• Refill with clean water regularly and keep containers clean. Do not use metal containers which get too hot.
• Wash your hands after handling the containers
Food
• Please note you need permission from local authorities to feed wildlife in National parks or reserves. There are likely already wildlife groups or local authorities working to support wildlife in these areas. In fact, there may be a regulated feeding program already in place, in particular for threatened or endangered species, during natural disasters.
Shelter
• place fallen logs, rocks, branches and bark around for the small critters to hide safely from predators.
• Animals may seek refuge in unusual places such as your sheds, garages even houses.
Pool safety
• animals desperate for water may end up in your pool or pond. Please make sure there is a way for them to climb out such as a piece of rope or type of ramp.
• Check your pool regularly
Injured wildlife
• Do not approach injured snakes, large macropods, raptors or monitors as these must be rescued by trained specialists. Please call your local wildlife rescue for advice
• Wildlife will emerge from fire affected areas days even weeks after the fire so please be observant and report any animal that looks to be struggling
• Rescued animals that suffer from burns should be loosely wrapped in ideally in 100% cotton fabric or a towel to protect burned areas and then placed in a cardboard box. Call your local wildlife rescue centre as soon as possible. Put the box in a quiet, dark, warm place until help arrives.
• You can offer the animal water in an appropriate size bowl, but it must self-drink, do not pour water into its mouth.
• Do not offer food as some medical treatments work better if the animal has an empty stomach.
• If you can safely take injured animals to your nearest vet please do so, if not please call your local rescue
• All injured animals need vet assessment urgently.
After a While…
As the bushland regenerates, your property may act as a ‘stepping stone’, or comprise part of a ‘wildlife corridor’ that will help birds and other native animals disperse into regenerating areas where the resident populations have been killed by the bushfire.
UPDATE
There is ongoing collaboration, co-operation and planning between multiple wildlife organisations, to put together teams who will attend the fire affected areas once the all clear has been given.
We have a triage van, vet and vet nurse who plan to be based in Jurien Bay area at the times the teams are there only. As things progress, we will be asking for local people to assist and will put the information as an addition to this post at that time.
Thank you to everyone who is thinking about the wildlife suffering at this time. Please stay safe everyone.
Advice for residents and visitors of Wedge Island, Grey, Cervantes, Jurien Bay and surrounds regarding wildlife affected by the devastating fires in the area.
With the fires still burning and threatening several communities on our West coast, we hope that all the residents, properties, pets and stock remain safe.
Once the all clear is given and you can return home, we ask you to give some thought to all the wildlife that have lost their homes, lost protection of the undergrowth from predators, lost food sources and lost supply of uncontaminated water. Wildlife that has survived may seek refuge in and around your back yard. You can help by being vigilant and observing for wildlife in trouble.
• If you see an injured/burnt kangaroo, do not approach but call your local wildlife group for advice or your local ranger. Please check pouches of deceased female kangaroos for joeys if it is safe to do so.
• Bobtails and small lizards, if found in the fire affected area, should come into care for assessment, as burns in reptiles are slow to develop and smoke inhalation can be a factor too. They can be placed in a pillow-case and top secured with an elastic band or placed in a secure cardboard box.
• Please leave snakes for registered snake handlers only
• Birds can be placed in a secure cardboard box with a cloth to stand on to prevent slipping around. Parrot species should be in a plastic pet carrier.
Please do not try and give anything to eat or drink until you have spoken to a vet or licensed wildlife person. Be aware that wildlife with burns can appear for several weeks after the fire is out.
You can help by putting out fresh water daily.
Telephone numbers to have on hand...........
Shire of Dandaragan for Jurien Bay, Cervantes, Grey and Wedge Island 9652 0800
Dept of Biodiversity, Conservation and attractions (DBCA) Jurien Bay 9688 6000
Wheatbelt vets, Jurien Bay 9652 1973. After hours 0475002843
Bluebush Wildlife Rescue Shannyn 0427 435 696, Sue 0410 222 365
