All Animal Rescuers

19/11/2024

What a beautiful way to start the day.

We had the pleasure of being able to release eight orphaned pacific black ducklings that had been in care since they were one day old and were now old enough to be ready to go back to the wild.

Watch the excited diving and zoomies as they have their first taste of freedom ###xx

18/11/2024

Cuteness overload! This adorable juvenile sugar glider was found on the ground in the middle of the day, distressed and all alone by a member of public. They did the right thing, gently picking her up and containing her and taking to their local vet for assessment. They actually thought she was a ringtail possum so were very surprised to learn they had helped a sugar glider as had never seen one where they lived which was a fairly built up suburb of Melbourne.

Cleared to be injury free, but needing care as too young to be released, we were called to help.

It didn't take long via our network of amazing wildlife carer's to find a carer who actually was looking for a buddy for a sugar glider that he already had in care who was a similar age. He was located a couple of hours away in regional Victoria though so now we needed to work out how to transport her to him.

Again the wildlife carer's network kicked in and it turned out another carer/rescuer who lived 5 mins from him was in Melbourne visiting family. We picked up the little sugar glider from the vet and arranged to meet the wonderful transporter the next day on her way back home. She safely delivered the glider to her new carer who would gradually introduce her to her new buddy with a view to them being eventually released together.

Looking forward to hopefully getting updates on her progress. She was only with us for a short time but won our hearts ###x

02/11/2024

This gorgeous little microbat was luckily spotted lying on the ground by a gardener at a Retirement Village before he was about to mow the grass there.

I went and collected the little one and assessed him finding no injuries, he was just cold and listless. This can happen to them on cooler nights when they are out hunting. Their body temperature drops and they go into a state of semi hibernation, are no longer able to continue their hunt for food, become dehydrated and unable to fly.

I took him home, warmed him up then fed him some yummy meal worms. They eat up to 40% of their body weight each night, so if not getting enough food can lose energy pretty quickly. The next day had Tamsyn from Fly By Night Bat Clinic Victoria assess to ensure all good before attempting to release. He was now warm, buzzing and active. Tams gave him a dose of fluids then gave me the all clear to release later that night back to his colony at the Retirement Village.

That night he very happily flew off as soon as I opened the carrier.

Microbats live close to buildings and are amazing insect eaters. Chances are you have a colony living near you but they are rarely seen so you would be oblivious to it. They would though be helping to keep the insect numbers down so say a quiet thank you to them!

We love microbats. ###

NB if you do happen to find a microbat that needs help, please don't handle with your bare hands. Contain if possible, be very gentle, then contact a wildlife rescue for assistance.

02/11/2024

We had a call this week about a home that had a little wood duck family appear about 3 weeks ago in their swimming pool. As it is quite normal for wild ducks to nest in backyards (especially those with swimming pools) then seem to magically appear one morning with their newly hatched ducklings as the residents had been oblivious to them having been sitting on a nest there the whole time, this was not unusual to hear. What was unusual about this instance, is that the duck family (mum, dad and 7 ducklings) had not left, but were still there 3 weeks later.

The parent ducks would take it in turns to look after their babies throughout the day as one parent flew off. I asked the usual questions when I got the call - was there access for the ducks to be able to leave by foot from the yard or were they trapped in it as even though parents could fly, ducklings would need to be able to walk out. Yes they could leave and would take their babies off for periods each day as were many gaps under the fence, only to return again later. There was plenty of natural food for them on the property and when looking up where the nearest creek/lake was, found it was just over 2km away.

So why not just let them stay and leave once babies could fly? There were 2 main issues. One there was a terrier dog on the property who instinctively wanted to hunt the ducks so was causing quite a bit of stress for its owners to try to keep it away from the ducks day and night.

The second issue was that the swimming pool was the duck's only water source. The owners had temporarily stopped putting salt and chlorine into the pool, but the water had turned green and with the weather warming up, they wanted to be able to use their own swimming pool, so had just put a high dose chlorine ''shock' into the pool to turn the water back to clear and also in the hope that the ducks would leave once and for all.

But they didn't. They stayed, continuing to swim and drink the heavily chlorinated water. This could not be good for them, especially in the rapidly developing ducklings.

We needed to get them out of there and help them move to the nearby creek.

I attended to find the father duck there by the pool looking after his 7 babies. Mamma was off somewhere. I was able to catch the father and 5 of the ducklings using a safe and relatively stress free drop net, but 2 of the ducklings managed to escape and took off quickly then hid (as they instinctively do when in perceived danger) and despite searching not just the yard of the property I was in, but also the yards of the 2 adjoining properties over the next 2 hours, was unable to locate the missing ducklings.

I decided to stop the search for now. I was fairly certain the 2 ducklings would find each other and stay together and once they knew I was gone would likely find their way back to the swimming pool. I also was fairly sure mama duck would return at some point soon and would call to them.

I took the dad duck and 5 babies to the nearby creek where there were other wood ducks happily foraging near the banks. When I opened their carrier doors they all ran straight into the fresh water and started drinking and diving then swam to meet the other ducks.

Within an hour or so I received a call advising the mamma duck and her 2 ducklings were back by the swimming pool!

I went straight there and was able to catch all 3 and took them back to the creek to the same spot where I had released their family. I couldn't see the ones I had released earlier there and quietly hoped they weren't making their way back to the chlorinated swimming pool.

I released the mamma duck and 2 ducklings who as per the dad and other 5 babies, all rushed straight into the fresh water. But then she started calling out loudly and swimming very fast down the creek with her 2 babies behind struggling to keep up with her. Then I saw where she was headed. Her family were further downstream and they were quacking and heading towards her. Within a few seconds the entire family were back together again. There was a loud quacking reunion then they all went up onto the bank and started exploring their new home.

01/11/2024

31/10/2024

I was called out tonight to an urgent rescue of a fledgling raven hanging upside down, stuck with its leg caught high up in a tree.

The report was made by a neighbour of the house that the tree was in just before 5pm. The tree was in the front yard of the house adjacent to the footpath so clearly visible to both passing foot as well as vehicle traffic.

When I arrived I spotted the struggling bird immediately and was relieved that it appeared to have righted itself, though was still trapped by its leg that was somehow wedged between some branches. As I watched it kept flapping around trying to get free but was unable to. It's wings were shredded from its attempts to escape making it look more like a bat than a raven. As it was too high up for my ladder to reach the fire brigade were called and luckily they were currently available so agreed to attend.

As I waited for them, numerous groups of trick or treaters walked past as it was Halloween, with several curious as to what I was doing there. I pointed up to the raven flapping around in vain and explained I was waiting for the fire brigade who were going to help me get the bird down.

Two different children then commented that they had noticed the raven up there that morning as they walked to school and had seen it was trapped. Yet nobody had reported it until nearly 5pm tonight. That's over 8 hours later.

No wonder his wings were shredded, I just hoped there wasn't more serious damage as the wings would grow back in time.

The fire brigade turned up and as per usual they were amazing, getting him down with their rescue equipment fairly quickly.

To my dismay upon assessing the young bird, I found one of his legs had completely snapped with a bone sticking out, and there were extensive injuries right up to the hip socket.

From spending the entire day struggling to free himself he had caused irreparable damage to his leg that he would be unable to recover fully from. If only someone had have called it in 8 hours earlier. It may have been a different outcome.

Please. If you see an animal needing help. Don't just think that someone else will sort it out. Let that someone be you that does something. Make a phone call. Tell someone. Such a waste of a young life.

Photo in comments of leg.

29/10/2024

Just a reminder this Halloween. Please if you have to use fake spiderwebs, only use them indoors.

26/10/2024

This beautiful young grey headed flying fox was spotted by a driver on the ground of a multi level carpark at a shopping centre crawling along the concrete before climbing onto a parked car's wheel hub.

The Driver called for help and I attended as quickly as I could worried that the person who owned the parked car would return and potentially drive off oblivious to the fact the little flying fox was clinging to its wheel.

When I arrived was relieved to find the little one still there so carefully picked him up and assessed for injuries. He had a minor break in one of his bones on his wings, as well as a small hole in the membrane, plus scrape marks on his body.

Unfortunately majority of vets won't accept Bats so unless severe injuries (in which case we would take to one of the zoo vets who do treat them), we take them to a bat specialist carer. The wonderful Tamsyn at didn't hesitate to take so I took him to her. After looking him over she believed he had been dragged under a car (hence ended up in the carpark) and had bad swelling on one elbow as well as the other injuries. The wounds though looked to be around 3 days old, so he had been there the whole time without food or water so was dehydrated and quite weak.

He is now in her care and we are hopeful can make a full recovery.

25/10/2024

Love this shelter. The amazing Kay often takes into care native wildlife that we rescue that needs rehabilitation. Please support her in this fun fundraiser!

Wow what a crazy time it is at the moment!
Wild Days is bursting at the seams!

With Wallabies and Wood Ducks, Galahs and Gliders, Swans and Swamphens, Tawny frogmouths and Blue tongues, Kangaroos and King Parrots, Masked Lapwings and Cockatoos, Flying Foxes and Brushtails, Ringtails and Pacific Black ducklings, Silver gulls and Ravens, we are busy busy busy.

As volunteers, we are all flat out keeping up with what needs doing around the shelter, but we need your help!

Our annual movie night is here. Why not have a night out to support Wild Days? COME ON - WE NEED YOU!

Our 'Wicked' movie fundraiser on November 23rd - click on the link to watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVtnCC4MI3c

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Click on the Try Booking link below for more details and to book your tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1309413

We hope to see you there!

Thanks for your support, the Team at Wild Days.

21/10/2024

We sadly picked up two magpies over the past week at different locations, each with horrific injuries/conditions that they were both struggling with and potentially dying a long slow death from.

One had huge hardened abdominal lumps that were infected and when found was huddled under a bush clearly in quite a bit of discomfort.

The other had been hanging around a property for the past couple of days with a badly broken lower beak (it was dangling) that was also infected (you could smell the odour when approaching it) unable to eat or drink so starving to death, but still able to fly so evading capture. When we got there on what was quite a warm afternoon, was sadly sitting in a dish of water, but unable to drink any of it.

We managed to catch them both and take them to nearby vets They were both kindly euthanased to end their suffering as neither would have been able to make a full recovery.

Although when attending these rescues, knowing that even if we catch them they will die as beyond the point of being able to be saved, we know at least their suffering will be over quickly and painlessly, and they will not die a horrible slow death or by being attacked by predators in their vulnerable states.

Thank you to those that noticed them and called for help.

02/10/2024

The best part ###

25/09/2024

This juvenile brushtail possum surprised an elderly gentleman when he went to check his letterbox and found it peering out at him from inside! He kept an eye on it for an hour or so and when it didn't move on, he called for help.

I came out and assessed and confirmed that not only was it unusual behaviour to be out and awake during the daytime, but it was too young to be on its own and should be with its mother.

Upon consulting with a wildlife carer was told at this age they often accidentally get separated from their mum as they are starting to venture off her back for the first time, and if lost will just stay in one place and wait for her until she hopefully comes back. (Just like we tell our own children to do should they lose us at a shopping centre etc!!).

Being so low down and exposed it potentially wasn't safe for the baby to stay there until dark so I picked him up and popped him into the safety of a woollen pouch, and took him home for a few hours. Once dark I returned to the location and held him safe whilst we both waited to sight his mother. It took around 2 hours but finally we heard a russle of leaves above us and the baby squeaked excitedly. With one leap he jumped from my arms onto the tree trunk next to us and ran up to join his mother.

Success! Always far better to reunite families if at all possible ###x

18/09/2024

We help foxes when they are injured and/or suffering, as we do all animals. It breaks our hearts however when we see the effects of them trying to survive in a country that they were never supposed to be in to begin with. Selfish humans are at fault for bringing them here.

31/08/2024

So the wildlife laws confuse me at times.

Native wildlife is protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to kill, trap or disturb wildlife.

However, if wildlife is deemed to be causing damage to property or danger to human life, permits can be obtained to do just that.

Based on the above, bird trappers obtain permits to catch entire flocks of birds such as cockatoos and galahs who are reportedly causing damage to property. Last year in Victoria permits were obtained to trap and kill 69,412 galahs, 67,360 corellas and 65,560 sulphur crested cockatoos (among other birds and animals)

Now when it comes to keeping birds as pets, legally you cannot take a native bird from the wild, pet birds have to be ones that were born in captivity.

There is a loophole though within the conditions of the permit for trapping birds, and that is that if the trapper finds baby or juvenile birds within the flock they have trapped, they are allowed to sell them into the pet trade. They must though put a silver 'Trapper's Ring' on the birds leg so that people are aware of its origins. But very few people seem to know that this is what those rings signify and just assume it is a normal bird ring for identification purposes.

Gumtree is flooded with baby cockatoos and galahs for sale, majority of these ads are by Bird Trappers who fail to mention that they are wild babies. People buy them unaware that these will unlikely be very tame or friendly at first, having been through the trauma of being wild and free then having their entire flock trapped (usually by large nets), then pulled out amongst their screaming panicking flock and put into a cage. Flock is then euthanased and babies have a metal ring forced onto their legs then their life of captivity begins. Sold to people expecting a cute friendly baby who then attempt to tame them with many giving up and just leaving them in their cages. Remember these beautiful birds can live for 100 years, so many are then resold again and again and again.

Last weekend we had a call from an emergency vet. They had had a 12 week old galah brought in. The person who brought it in had bought it from Gumtree and said he could no longer care for him so was surrendering to the vet. The baby had a trapper's ring on it. Assuming he was just too wild which they were mislead to believing would be a friendly baby.

So in its short life the baby had been born wild and free, trapped, sold, then dumped at a noisy emergency vet that on a weekend is a hectic place to be. I immediately went and picked him up. The poor thing was panicky, and stressed. I took him home where I have 4 other galahs in care and although I would usually quarantine a new bird, knew this was a special case. He looked bright and healthy and had no sign of disease or illness, but my heart sank when I examined his wings. They had been clipped to prevent him from flying.

I placed him into my flight aviary with the other galahs and he went straight to them desperate to rejoin a flock. They were wonderful with him and accepted him immediately, giving him the comfort he needed.

This baby was still wild enough though to be able to go back to the wild and not spend the rest of his life behind bars. We just had to ensure he stayed wild whilst his flight feathers grew back which could take up to a year.

I spoke to an amazing wildlife carer that I knew who said she was happy to take him on. He would have more chance of staying wild if living with other wild birds and not domesticated talking ones like the ones that I have. Being a registered wildlife carer she took steps to ensure that the wild birds in her care were kept in a way that was as close to how they lived in the wild as possible before being able to be released.

I took the young galah in to the vet to have his trapper's ring removed and a check over, then today took him to the wildlife carer's shelter. She will care for him until he is able to fly again then release him to a wild galah flock.

He is now on his way to being rehabilitated to being able to be returned back to the wild.

31/08/2024

We had a call from a train driver as she was travelling along a train line in the Northern suburbs. She had spotted a kangaroo next to the tracks and could tell it was probably trapped as high fences all along the sides with a locked gate nearby. He was just near a station so should ideally be a case of getting someone to open the gate to let him back out.

Unsure how he had gotten in - possibly further up the line and had followed the tracks down but was now stressed wanted to get back to its Mob and unable to work out how to.

The driver had done as she said she always did and reported it to Metro train authorities but said she wasn't confident they ever actually did anything about it as roos were regularly getting hit by trains, so thought this time she would report to a wildlife rescue instead.

We immediately contacted Krysti from Rescue Rehabilitate Release who was local to the area and an expert at kangaroo rescue. She headed out there and after spending some time requesting train staff to help her and having to wait for the relevant authorised person to open the gate and give her permission to attempt the rescue, she was finally able to try to help the now stressed out roo.

She was advised by several staff that they had seen the kangaroo there over the last couple of days yet none of them had reported him or taken any steps to do anything about helping him. One official advised Krysti that they had no intention of even stopping the trains temporarily if she required them to 'as it was just a kangaroo '....

Meanwhile in the process of attempting to help him another staff member managed to spook the roo and he was nearly struck by 2 passing trains, then a passer-by walking his dog spooked him yet again and he nearly was hit by another 2 trains. By this time the poor kangaroo was highly agitated which is not an ideal state for roos to be in so Krysti decided to dart him to sedate him so that she could safely transport him to a wildlife carer for him to be given fluids and care before being released back to his mob.

Thankfully she managed to do this and soon he was safely on his way.

Please if you see a roo (especially if on its own) in a place it isn't meant to be, please contact your nearest wildlife rescue for help. Kangaroos can become confused quite easily when they have wandered astray and if they become stressed can quickly develop myopathy which is fatal for them. Lucky for this little guy, he was saved in time.