Wildlife Victoria

This poor juvenile magpie was reported to our Emergency Response Service entangled in rubbish 20 metres above the ground. Sadly, rubbish like string, netting and fishing line can get caught around birds’ feet and may cause fatal injury.

Our Emergency Response Operator immediately went to work to find a bird trained volunteer, as well as an arborist to help get the magpie down from such a height. Thanks to the arborist, the two volunteers were able to access the juvenile, remove them from the tree and to cut the rubbish away from their delicate feet. After a trip to the vet clinic for a thorough assessment, and a good nights rest, the magpie was able to be released back into the wild the next day.

Cases requiring multiple attendees are complex and can be difficult to coordinate, but thanks to our Emergency Response Operator, our two amazing wildlife rescue volunteers, and the helpful arborist, this magpie was able to be saved.

If you spot a bird entangled in rubbish, whether up in a tree or on the ground, please call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.

It's World Rivers Day!

Today we celebrate the value rivers bring to communities, their importance in ecosystems and the life they sustain.

In Australia, rivers provide a home for a variety of our native flora and fauna species. Keeping our rivers clean, healthy and thriving is integral to these species' future survival.

If you have time today, go out for a stroll along your local river and take in the life that flourishes along it. If you see any rubbish or litter, do the river a favour and dispose of it responsibly!

Two more spectacular entries to the Threatened Species bake-off from the Wildlife Victoria team 🍰

The bake off coincides with National Threatened Species Day which is held each year to educate and raise important awareness for our precious native species that are at the greatest risk of extinction.

Entry by: Natasha Murray - Emergency Response Operator
Species: Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby
Status: Critically endangered in Victoria
Fun fact: They are incredibly agile, built for their natural habitat of rocky escarpments and cliffs.
Conservation risk: Habitat loss and degradation, coupled with predation from introduced species, has placed the brush-tailed rock-wallaby under immense pressure.

Entry by: Celeste Warner - Emergency Response Service Supervisor
Species: Orange-bellied Parrot
Status: Critically endangered in Victoria
Fun fact: Orange-bellied parrots are one of only three migratory parrot species in the world!
Conservation risk: There are very few orange-bellied parrots left in the wild with major threats including habitat loss and climate change. Incredibly low population numbers has also introduced additional risks including genetic decline and s*x ratio bias.


Threatened Species Commissioner

Although most grey-headed flying fox colonies leave Victoria during winter, there were still over 200 reports made to our Emergency Response Service for sick, injured or orphaned grey-headed flying foxes over the colder months. A number of the reports noted flying foxes lying on the ground and on rescue, were found to have almost fatally low body temperatures.

That's what happened to this little flying fox. She was found one morning last month lying on the pavement near Melbourne’s CBD. Not one but two members of the public reported her to our Emergency Response Service with one staying with her until a bat trained volunteer was able to attend. Our volunteer immediately recognised the temperature risk and warmed her up with blankets and the car heater. She was able to be taken to a veterinarian for assessment before being placed into care with a volunteer rehabilitator.

Flying foxes on the ground are incredibly vulnerable and it’s a clear indication that something is wrong. Grey-headed flying foxes must only be handled by experienced and trained bat experts so please avoid picking them up and call Wildlife Victoria’s 24/7 Emergency Response Service if you suspect a flying fox is sick, injured or orphaned.

A reminder that we are available to receive donations through Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme!♻️

This scheme allows Victorians to receive a 10c refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return to a dedicated collection point. After returning your containers, there is an option to donate the funds you received to Wildlife Victoria. This donation will go towards helping Wildlife Victoria to continue its vital work of rescuing sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.

How does it work?
1. Collect eligible containers with the 10c mark, making sure not to crush them!
2. Locate your local refund point on the Victorian CDS website and bring the containers
3. Donate your refund to Wildlife Victoria using you zone specific app. Search "Wildlife Victoria" under 'Charities' then scan our barcode at your local machine. You can then insert your containers, pressing 'transfer' at the end to confirm your donation!

For more information, visit the CDS website at cdsvic.org.au

Having a valid Will is important for making sure your loved ones will be cared for and your values will live on for future generations.

Safewill has made it easier and more affordable for Australians who don’t have a valid Will to protect the people and causes that mean the most to them.

Safewill is waiving their fee for Wildlife Victoria supporters until September 16th.

Once you have ensured your loved ones have been provided for, Wildlife Victoria would be grateful if you would consider leaving a bequest so that we can continue to protect our precious wildlife for future generations.

Head to safewill.com/wildlifevictoria to write your Will today.

Wildlife Victoria receives calls about black swans for a variety of reasons, however most commonly they are reported with injuries attributed to fishing line or rubbish entanglement.

We encourage the use of biodegradable fishing hooks and line, especially in waterways where wildlife are present. Biodegradable line is designed to breakdown in less than ten years. In comparison, plastic fishing line takes up to 600 years to decompose and causes significant and long-term impacts to the environment and native animals. These beautiful creatures are quite large and difficult to rescue, especially when on the water, so small measures like replacing hooks and line can decrease life threatening situations.

If you see a sick, injured or orphaned swan, please call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300. If you can see a tag on the swan, please note its number as it helps our rescuers identify the individual animal and allows Wildlife Victoria to notify the relevant research team.

Here at Wildlife Victoria our staff have been busy baking 🍰

This year we're participating in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's threatened species bake off. The bake off coincides with National Threatened Species Day which is held each September 7 to educate and raise important awareness for our precious native species at the greatest risk of extinction.

Here are two incredible entries that we've enjoyed over the past two days with (fingers crossed) more cake to come!

Entry by: Camilla Woods - Wildlife Victoria Veterinary Nurse
Species: Giant Gippsland Earthworm
Status: Endangered in Victoria
Fun fact: They are one of the largest worms in the world and can grow up to 150cm!
Conservation risk: They’re being impacted largely by soil disturbances through processes such as climate change (lower rainfall) and agriculture (pesticides and cultivation).

Entry by: Meg Butler - Wildlife Victoria Head of External Relations
Species: Greater Glider
Status: Endangered in Victoria
Fun fact: The greater glider can glide for up to 100 metres!
Conservation risk: Greater gliders call tree hollows home and are therefore reliant on old growth forests. They are at risk due to tree clearing and forest destruction as well as the increased impacts of climate change.


Threatened Species Commissioner

Hop to it! Up to 50% off selected items from the Wildlife Victoria online shop.

Choose from an array of wildlife-themed items including tees, tea towels and tote bags and show your love for our precious native animals.

Head to shop.wildlifevictoria.org.au to start shopping with all proceeds going towards helping sick, injured and orphaned wildlife across the state.

Our wildlife is precious; each animal plays a critical role in the overall health of our ecosystems. But the future presents many challenges for their survival.

One of the most generous and impactful ways you can help is by making a bequest to Wildlife Victoria in your Will.

From September 2nd-16th, Safewill (Australia’s leading online Will writing platform) is offering our supporters the opportunity to write their Will for free. It takes as little as 20 minutes to complete, and is reviewed by their affiliate law firm, Safewill Legal.

Making a bequest to Wildlife Victoria will leave a legacy of your compassion and help us continue to protect wildlife for future generations. Head to safewill.com/wildlifevictoria to write your Will for free today.

One of the most common calls to Wildlife Victoria during spring is for fledgling birds found on the ground. The term "fledgling" is used to describe the developmental stage after a baby bird has left the nest.

The fledgling stage can be likened to that of toddlers. They are developing their muscles, learning through doing, and they may fall down a few times before learning to walk... or fly in the case of our bird species.

It's important to remember that although this stage is a vulnerable one, it's integral for the bird to learn foraging, survival skills, and how to fly. They stay on the ground for a couple of weeks, with most species still needing intervention from parents for food and safety until they are independent enough to survive alone.

The most common fledgling species reported to our Emergency Response Service are magpies, noisy miners and rainbow lorikeets.

Read on to understand how to identify each of the species in fledgling stage.

Magpies fledglings
✔️Dark beak
✔️Grey feathers and short tail feathers
✔️Significantly more fluffy and will likely be hopping on the ground and vocalising

Noisy miner fledglings
✔️Dullish yellow skin around the eyes
✔️Very fluffy!
✔️Will be hopping around on the ground and vocalising

Rainbow lorikeet fledgling

✔️Dark, muddy brown beak
✔️Black eyes
✔️Short tail feathers

If you are unsure whether a fledgling needs rescuing, please call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300 and make sure you have photos prepared to share for identification.

The new edition of The Big Issue features our Travelling Veterinary Service - the first truly mobile wildlife veterinary service in Australia.

Wildlife Victoria's veterinarians and veterinary nurses are truly incredible. On call seven days a week, our vet team work tirelessly across parts of the state to deliver critical veterinary treatment to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in Victoria.

Wildlife Victoria launched this service in 2022 after a critical gap in round the clock wildlife veterinary support was identified across the state. This service is provided at no cost to the Victoria community and to Wildlife Victoria volunteer rescuers and rehabilitators, saving our compassionate and hardworking volunteers thousands of dollars in medication costs and time. The service also reduces the burden on what we know is an already overstretched GP veterinary sector.

As a non-profit charity, we are only able to continue our lifesaving operations through the generous support of the public. Show your support for our Travelling Veterinary Service by making a donation today via wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate and pick yourself up a copy of The Big Issue from your local vendor.

Photos for Wildlife Victoria by Doug Gimesy Photography.

That’s right Skip, it’s new edition day! In the latest Big Issue, we hop on the road with Wildlife Victoria's Travelling Vet Service and photographer Doug Gimesy to reveal the vital ways they’re caring for our native animals.

Plus:
👩 Gigi Amazonia looks back on her wild youth, her time on and her boundless energy in her Letter to My Younger Self
🏞️ We visit the first beavers to live in London’s waterways in over 400 years –to discover why rewilding is a dam good idea for the environment
🧠 Emilia Clarke tells us about the brain aneurysms that changed her life and inspired her to start SameYou – her charity that supports people recovering from brain injuries
🍎 Spiced Apple Crumble Tart, anyone? Tarts Anon share their generous and fragrant recipe, which is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!

So say hi to your vendor and pick up a copy of the mag today – it will give you the warm fuzzies.

As spring approaches, so does the iconic 'Swooping Season'! But why do some birds swoop? And how can you avoid it?

Magpies are one of our cheekiest offenders. Their nesting season lasts from mid-August to November, and the swooping behaviour only last a few weeks while there are young in the nest.

Magpies (mostly males) swoop during this time as they perceive certain actions as threats to their young. Riding your bike, walking or running quickly within a 50m radius of a nest may be seen as an "aggression".

For magpies and other swooping birds such as the masked lapwing and noisy miner, ensuring that you are slow, quiet and keep as much distance as you can when passing by an active nest will help you avoid a swooping incident. Magpies are highly intelligent and will remember your face and treat you accordingly, so always remember to be mindful of them year-round! This might just save you during springtime.

Sometimes swooping is unavoidable, so it's best to be prepared. Wearing a hat, bike helmet or even a bucket will reduce any possible injuries, however, remember that less than 12% of breeding male magpies will swoop, and only 5% of those will make contact.

If you come across a swooping bird, it's always important to look at the situation from their perspective. We are a lot bigger and stronger compared to them, and even more so compared to their young! Their aggression is a response to their vulnerability, and we can't deny they are dedicated parents!

Final photo taken by Lydia Phelan.

Did you know that spring is historically the busiest period of the year for Wildlife Victoria?

Our wildlife flourishes in spring - they become more active, and grow in number with many of our native animals having young. However, this often leads to an increase in wildlife found sick, injured or orphaned.

Last spring, reports of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife to our Emergency Response Service increased on average 30% on the year prior with a staggering 50% increase in September alone. This rapid increase puts substantive pressure on both our Emergency Response Service and our Travelling Veterinary Service. Not only do the numbers of rescues increase, but so do the number of animals that need care and veterinary attention.

We appreciate any support, no matter how big or small! If a donation is something you are able to give, please head to wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate

Guess what tonight is!

It's International Bat Night!🦇

Tonight, we celebrate the diverse range of bat species we have here in Victoria; ranging from the tiny microbats to their larger cousin the grey-headed flying fox. Bats play an incredibly important ecological role in the pollination and regeneration of native plants across Australia and are integral to the future health of our environment.

Look up at the sky tonight, you might be lucky enough to hear or see one of our beautiful bat species enjoying the skies.

Do you have a favourite bat fact?

Comment below!

This little kangaroo was spotted through a drain, trapped in a large pipe system. Luckily, a passerby contacted our Emergency Response Service, and we dispatched one of Wildlife Victoria's experienced macropod rescuers. The joey had fallen down a small opening in the drain and was unable to get out on their own. Unfortunately, the opening was too small for the rescuer to easily access the joey. Our innovative rescuer spent time assessing the situation before contacting a plumber to help access the area. With help from the plumber, the joey was rescued and transported to a veterinary clinic before being placed in care with a wildlife rehabilitator.

Rescues are often complicated and can sometimes take hours to complete. However, our volunteers are incredibly dedicated and resourceful and this leads to wonderful outcomes like this one 💗

If you come across trapped wildlife, please call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.

Understanding what is normal or abnormal animal behaviour isn’t always easy. However, for many of our arboreal (tree-dwelling) species, there are some key signs to be on the lookout for that will help you understand when assistance is required.

Possums/gliders: All possums and glider species are nocturnal and arboreal. They may forage on the ground from time to time, but they primarily live above the ground. A possum or glider out during the day and/or on the ground may have an underlying health issue, be injured or orphaned, and may need to be rescued.

Koalas: Koalas are naturally slow moving and will move along the ground from tree to tree. Our Emergency Response Operators may suggest monitoring a stationary koala for a period of time prior to dispatching a volunteer. However, if they are on the ground for more than a few hours, have not moved from the same spot in a tree for more than 24-48 hours, or they allow you to approach them, it’s likely something is wrong.

Bats: Both grey-headed flying foxes and microbats should never be on the ground or out flying during the day. They cannot easily take off from the ground and will exhaust themselves attempting to do so. Grey-headed flying foxes (fruit bats) are also rarely alone. If they are alone, this can signify an issue. EDIT: Bats flying at night is normal behaviour, however out in the day and alone is a concern.

If you find any of these animals displaying the above behaviours, or an animal is visibly sick, injured or orphaned, please report this as soon as possible to our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.

It's World Lizard Day!🦎

Today we celebrate our scaled native friends and their amazing contribution to our precious ecosystems!

One of the most common lizard species called into Wildlife Victoria is the blue-tongue lizard with over 1,000 calls to our Emergency Response Service in the past 12 months.

It's important to remember that our lizard species are non venomous and that they benefit the ecology of our garden by snacking on pesky insects. As the weather warms up, you're more likely to see them enjoying a sunny spot in your backyard so sit back and enjoy 🌞

Often found on the ground after colliding with windows or being hit by vehicles while hunting near roadways, the southern boobook owl is one of the most common owl species we receive calls about.

Despite the name, they are found throughout most of Australia's mainland and Tasmania and are our smallest owl species. These charmingly grumpy looking owls mainly hunt small mammals and insects and are most active during their breeding season between September to February.

If you find a Boobook on the ground, injured or displaying abnormal behaviour, you can call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service for further advice on 03 8400 7300.

It is not uncommon to stumble upon wildlife that have run into trouble on powerlines. The two most common species we receive calls for are possums (ringtail and brushtail) and grey-headed flying foxes.

It’s important to report incidents of injured and deceased native animals on or near powerlines as they may be carrying young that may still be alive. Possums carry joeys in their pouch, and grey-headed flying foxes carry pups under their wings. It may be difficult to tell if young are present so taking photos and video to send through to our Emergency Response Service will help our team assess the situation.

What can you do?
Call our Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300. We will contact the necessary energy distribution company and organise a volunteer to meet them for any orphaned young or injured animals that need to be transported to a vet clinic.

IMPORTANT!
Please do not attempt to touch or pick up an animal you suspect has been electrocuted.

Pouch checks save lives❤️

This gorgeous wombat joey was found after a kind member of the public pulled over to check the pouch of a deceased wombat on the side of the road. Due to the joey's larger size, they struggled to remove him easily and called Wildlife Victoria for advice.

Jordan, our Emergency Response Operator, sent out the call for help to our Wildlife Victoria volunteer network. One of our skilled rescuers was able to attend the scene and successfully remove the joey from their mum’s pouch. The joey is now in care with a wildlife rehabilitator and will be raised alongside other orphaned wombats until old enough to be released back into the wild.

If you see injured or deceased wildlife on the side of the road please call our Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.

👉Did you know? Wildlife Victoria rescuers show that a pouch check has been completed by marking deceased wildlife with an ‘X’ in fluorescent spray paint👈

Photo on image 3 by Doug Gimesy Photography

The eastern grey kangaroo is one of three kangaroo species living alongside us here in Victoria. Not only are they incredibly beautiful, kangaroos play a vital role in helping to regulate the health of our soils, ecosystems and in the propagation of native grasses.

During winter, we usually receive an increased number of reports of kangaroos impacted by phalaris toxicity. Phalaris, also known as canary grass, is an introduced perennial grass which causes neurological damage in kangaroos resulting in a “drunk-like” appearance. Symptoms to note are muscle tremors, lack of balance, erratic tail movements, seizures, and head flopping.

If you see a kangaroo exhibiting symptoms of phalaris toxicity poisoning, please keep a safe distance from the animal to minimise stress and contact our 24/7 Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.

Photo by Lydia Phelan and video footage provided by Jay Cameron.

Koalas are one of Australia's iconic and unique animals, and we're letting them down.

At Wildlife Victoria, we are seeing firsthand increased numbers of sick, injured and orphaned koalas needing care. Changes in habitat from logging, urban development and climate change combined with increased road accidents are impacting koala populations. They need our help, now more than ever.

The Koalas film was created by Gregory Miller and Georgia Wallace-Crabbe to showcase what's impacting koalas across the country and to discuss opportunities to help them survive and thrive now and into the future.

The Koalas is now showing at a number of cinemas across Victoria.

Watch the trailer via vimeo.com/934663581?share=copy and go to for screening dates and locations.

This sweet ringtail possum was dropped into a veterinary clinic after a concerned member of the public found her lying immobile and on the ground during the day.

Despite a bloody nose and an old leg injury, the possum, affectionately nicknamed Maggie, was bright and alert and was able to enter rehabilitation with a Wildlife Victoria volunteer prior to being returned to the wild.

Ringtail possums are arboreal, meaning they live in the treetops, and they predominantly avoid moving at ground level due to the increased risk of predation.

If you see a possum immobile and on the ground, especially during the day, please call Wildlife Victoria's 24/7 Emergency Response Service for advice on 03 8400 7300.

Make sure to catch the video of little Maggie enjoy a snack🍎

It's World Snake Day! 🐍

Today we acknowledge and celebrate all the incredible snake species we are lucky to have here in Australia.

Did you know?

Snakes eat their prey whole and can swallow prey ten times the size of their head! This is because their jaws are not fused together with bone but with stretchy muscles. Their diet mostly consists of small mammals such as rats and mice, birds and sometimes even other reptiles.

It's always important to remember to keep your distance if you come across a snake as they will, more often than not, move off on their own. Remember, they are more scared of you, than you are of them!

Wildlife photographer Doug Gimesy Photography spent a week with our Travelling Veterinary Service to document their work. The Wildlife Victoria Travelling Veterinary Service consists of five veterinarians and five vet nurses who provide free veterinary support to native animals in rehabilitation with Wildlife Victoria volunteers. Doug captured some truly incredible images that show firsthand the care and commitment our vet team exhibit each and every day for our native wildlife. Head to The Guardian via the link to catch a glimpse of our team in action 🔗 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2024/jul/14/wildlife-victorias-travelling-veterinary-services-team-in-pictures

If you would like to make a donation to support the work of our Travelling Veterinary Service, please go to wildlifevictoria.org.au

Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Veterinary Services team – in pictures The service launched in 2022 in response to a statewide veterinary worker shortage and a critical gap in round-the-clock wildlife veterinary support

This beautiful barn owl was reported to Wildlife Victoria after a caring member of the community saw them fly into a window. They carefully placed the animal in a box and transported them to a nearby veterinary clinic. After an initial assessment, the vet team determined the owl was well enough to be placed into care with a wildlife rehabilitator. Our Emergency Response Operators sent out a call for those shelters with raptor expertise and the owl was able to be placed into care until well enough to be re-released.

There are different reasons why a bird might fly into a window - they may not see it, may see a reflection of foliage and sky in the glass, or for nocturnal animals they may be attracted to an inside light. Injuries vary and while some animals may only be temporarily stunned, others will have more serious injuries.

If you see an animal fly into a building or window, please check their condition and call our 24/7 Emergency Response Service for advice on 03 8400 7300.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation to Wildlife Victoria during our Drive Change for Wildlife Fundraising Appeal, especially those that regularly give each month.

All donations will go towards staffing our 24/7 Emergency Response Service, to running volunteer training both for new and existing volunteers across the state, and in the ongoing operation of our Travelling Veterinary Service. In addition, funds will be directed into the continuation of our Wildlife Road Toll Reduction Project. This project commenced in 2023 with the aim to proactively reduce the number of native animals injured and killed on our roads.

To find out more about the work Wildlife Victoria does across any of these areas, visit our website at wildlifevictoria.org.au

Photo by Lydia Phelan

Wombats are marsupial herbivores native to Australia. Unlike other marsupials, the wombat’s pouch faces backwards rather than forward. This allows wombats to dig burrows without gathering soil in their pouch or onto their pouch young.

Wombats are predominantly nocturnal and seeing one wandering during the day might be a sign something is wrong.

Wombats are particularly susceptible to a condition called mange. Mange is an infestation of the parasitic mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. Affected wombats exhibit signs of hair loss, thickened and crusty skin and in the later stages, blindness and deafness. The good news is that mange can be treated in the wild. Wildlife Victoria refers most cases of mange to Mange Management - Treating Mange in Wombats, an organisation of dedicated volunteers who specialise in the treatment of mange in the wild.

Wombats are also commonly reported to our Emergency Response Service having been hit by a vehicle and it’s important for motorists to stay alert when driving through wombat habitat.

If you see a sick, injured, orphaned or deceased wombat, please call us on (03) 8400 7300.

Give now to our Drive Change for Wildlife fundraising appeal. Please help us continue to rescue sick, injured and orphaned wildlife hit by vehicles across the state by making a tax-deductible donation before June 30.

Your donation will help orphaned native animals like Jack.

Jack is a bare-nosed wombat who was rescued after his mother was struck by a car. Jack was cared for and rehabilitated by one of Wildlife Victoria’s volunteer carers and successfully re-released back into the wild.

Help make a difference in the lives of native wildlife. Make a donation to Wildlife Victoria today at wildlifevictoria.org.au/give