If you find an injured or orphaned animal:
Call Bonorong Wildlife Rescue Service hotline immediately on 0447 264 625 (available 24/7).
If you get an answer machine, do not worry they will call back as soon as they can.
- Keep animal warm (not hot) - your body heat is best
- Keep animal quiet - whisper, turn car radio off
- Keep animal dark - in a pouch or pillowcase
- Wildlife is easily stressed so keep handling to a minimum
- Do not give food or drink
Always ensure your own safety and that of others
Make sure your car is well off the road. Use your headlights and hazard lights to stay visible to other cars and put on your high-vis vest (if you have one). If the animal is on the road, move it off the road if it is safe to do so. To do this, grip the animal about halfway along the tail and drag it off the road.
Marsupial pouch checking guide:
This is a basic guide for checking the pouch of a dead marsupial for a baby or joey, and what to do if you find one.
1. Check if the animal is female or male by checking for testicles
All checked animals should be spray painted with a large cross so other wildlife rescuers know they don’t need to stop.
2. The pouch
Most female marsupials have a small pouch opening at belly button level on the abdomen. Position your towel at the entrance of the pouch so joeys can’t escape.
3. Open the pouch
Open by pinching the fur or skin between your hands, then lifting to stretch the opening of the pouch so that you can see inside.
4. Use a torch to look right to the bottom of the pouch
Newborn joeys can be very small. Some species may have more than one joey.
5. If there is no joey, check the teats of the mother
If one teat is longer than the other, she may have been nursing and there may be a joey nearby. Safely scout the area to check. If you find a deceased female, stay very quiet and still for 10 minutes or so and listen for a joey calling their mum – it sounds like a squeaky or clucking noise. If safe and possible to do so, move the deceased body well off the road to prevent scavenging wildlife from also being hit by vehicles.
6. Do not give food or fluids
Don’t give any food or fluids including water, unless on vet, Bonorong or trained wildlife carer advice.
Removing a joey from pouch
Important – the method for removing a joey from a pouch depends on the age of the joey.
- Very young joeys (hairless/pink)
The mouth of a very young joey may still be fused to its mother’s teat. Removing the joey from its mother can cause serious injury.
If the joey is attached, it is best to transport the whole body of the mother for assistance.
If this isn’t possible, immediately call Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on 0447 264 625, so they can talk you through the process of removing the joey. You’ll need to cut the teat as close
to the mother’s body as possible so you can remove the joey from the pouch with the teat still in its mouth.
- Older joeys (furred/velvet)
Older joeys will have fur and won’t be attached to their mother’s teat. You can gently and carefully remove these joeys from the pouch.
Never force the joey. If the pouch is too tight you may need to cut the pouch entrance open a little with round tipped scissors. Be careful to shield the joey from the scissors to avoid injury.
Don’t worry if the joey cries or hisses. This means they are alive and aware of what is happening.
Never pull a joey out of the pouch by any limb or tail! Place your hand in the pouch and perform a scooping motion with your palm along the joey’s back.
Put the joey into your makeshift pouch immediately. If there’s someone else with you, use their body heat to keep the joey warm. Body warmth is safest for the joey but blankets or a cotton/flannelette pillowcase can also be used.
Take the joey to the nearest vet or call your local wildlife carer for advice on where to go.
Make sure the journey is warm, dark and quiet to minimise stress.
They are all sentient, they all matter.
Warning….
This harsh reality is very confronting!
By taking a few extra minutes when driving at night, these devastating situations can often be avoided.
They all matter, they’re all sentient and worthy of our respect and consideration.
