First — Keep Yourself Safe

While You Wait For Us

For animals that are safe to contain (small birds, possums, small reptiles, joeys), a few simple steps make a big difference to their chances:

1. Keep it warm, dark and quiet. Stress is often more dangerous than the injury itself. Native animals see people, noise and light as threats — a quiet, dark space lets their body focus on survival. Drape a towel over the container and keep it in a calm room away from noise, TVs and barking dogs. For unfurred joeys, gentle warmth is critical: a wrapped hot water bottle (comfortably warm, never hot) beside — not under — the animal works well.
2. Use a secure, ventilated box lined with a soft cloth or towel. A cardboard box with air holes and a lid is ideal. Avoid wire cages (birds damage feathers on them) and don't use towels with loose loops for reptiles or bats of any kind. Make sure the animal can't escape — a "recovered" animal loose in your car or house is dangerous for everyone.
3. Don't offer food or water. This is the one people find hardest, but it matters most. The wrong food can be fatal — cow's milk kills marsupial joeys, and bread harms birds. Injured or cold animals often can't swallow properly, so even water can end up in their lungs. Our carers have species-specific formulas and will assess hydration properly. Unless a rescuer specifically tells you otherwise, offer nothing.
4. Keep pets and children away. Even a well-meaning dog or curious child in the same room dramatically raises the animal's stress. If a cat has had contact with the animal — even without visible wounds — tell us: cat saliva causes infections that need urgent treatment.
5. Wash your hands before and after any contact, and handle the animal as little as possible — ideally only once, to get it into the box. Wildlife can carry diseases that affect people and pets, and we can carry germs that harm them. Gloves or a towel between you and the animal protect you both.
6. Note the exact location. Write down or drop a pin where you found the animal. Wildlife must be released close to where they were rescued — it's their home territory, and for some species (like possums) release elsewhere drastically reduces survival.

Special Situations

What We'll Ask When You Call

You don't need all of this ready, but knowing it speeds things up:

• What kind of animal it is (or your best guess — a photo helps if it's safe to take one)
• Where exactly it is — street address, landmark or pin
• What's wrong — visible injuries, behaviour, how long it's been there
• Whether it's contained or still loose, and whether pets or traffic are nearby
• Your contact number so the responding rescuer can reach you

Then a trained carer will guide you from there. Not sure what species you've found or whether it even needs rescuing? Our "I Found..." guide walks you through it animal by animal.