If you find an injured or ill native animal or bird, it is important not to stress it unnecessarily. If you are unable to catch it with your hands, the best thing to do is to throw a towel or blanket over it and scoop it up. While transporting it to the hospital, keep a towel over it so that it is kept in the dark as much as possible, and don’t allow children to poke and prod it. If you are still having difficulty catching it, contact WIRES 1300 0Wires (1300 094 737) or Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Service (02) 9413 4300.

An important reminder: if you find an injured or ill flying fox (otherwise known as a fruit bat), DO NOT APPROACH IT. Flying foxes can potentially harbour life-threatening diseases which can be transferred to people; contact one of the wildlife rescue organisations immediately.

Once the animal arrives at the hospital, it will be immediately assessed by one of our vets, any medical or surgical treatment necessary will be instituted, and it will be kept in hospital in our dedicated wildlife ward, away from noisy dogs and cats, for as long as necessary. Once necessary veterinary treatment has been completed, animals that are able to be rehabilitated back into the wild will be transferred to one of the wildlife carer organisations for release when appropriate. Animals that are too badly injured to be ultimately released back into the wild will be painlessly put to sleep.

Please join with us in helping protect our precious native animals.