Flood victims. Possum and joey. Image: Ray Nicholson

The recent flood, cyclone and bushfire disasters across Australia have taken their toll on all.  Our wildlife have suffered immeasurably too, as wildlife carers try to contend with the influx of injured and orphaned wildlife.

The problems with our native wildlife did not start with the inland and coastal flooding.  They started way back in October/November  when the constant rain was becoming an almost daily ritual.  The birds began to suffer then with starvation and weakness due to lack of food.  When there is no nectar and fruit on the trees, and a lack of insects, food sources are depleted, and our birds depend on this food source at different levels.

It was difficult to find natural foods for some of our wildlife in care.  Fortunately, artificial diets have been refined over the years. Even members of the general public are now aware  that feeding such products as bread to our wildlife leads to later problems.

WILVOS received quite a number of calls asking what the best food was to put out for wildlife in the continual wet weather.  Usually, we do not recommend feeding wildlife – congregations of birds to feeding centres lead to a dependence on artificial food, and also lead to the spread of disease amongst the species concerned.  In the days of pouring rain, I did agree with people that the nectar mixes from the supermarkets or produce stores would help the hungry birds, many having nestlings to feed as well.  Even honey short term would help. Cutting up fruit and putting in trays, away from predators, was also a good practice. This also brought around the delicious insects – a good protein source.  The feeding of grain in warm, wet and humid weather is not a good idea, as it ferments very quickly and can lead to death for our wildlife.

We had many interesting calls during the Brisbane floods.  I had a call from an ex-WILVO in Canberra, who had received a call about an echidna from a riverside suburb in Brisbane.  This young echidna was fine, but had been swimming for its life in an area where the water was rising rapidly. It was held short-term in a wheelie bin of good clean mulch until the waters receded and a suitable spot was found nearby for its return to its home ground.  A number of echidnas came in for short-term care, often just exhausted.  Though they are competent  swimmers, they have an eversion to marathons!

Native animals were often swept into areas where they were at the mercy of domestic animals.  WILVOS had a number of such injured animals.  One beautiful ringtail possum died after being mauled by a dog, but her two  tiny joeys are now surviving with expert care from a very dedicated WILVO.

Another possum, a Bobuck or Short-eared possum as they are now classified, came in with a small joey.  It had extensive abrasions and an eye infection. Denise, the WILVO carer, said it was the gentlest possum and allowed her to administer medication and eye treatments twice a day, without complaining.  It built up its strength quickly, and the little joey grew rapidly with the extra sustenance.  They have happily been released back to their territory, which is now safe.

Our country WILVOS did it tough during the floods.  Kilkivan had record rain levels set, as our carers Jan, and Anne-Marie, who lived not far down the road, were flooded in for two weeks.  Anne-Marie urgently needed milk formula for her joeys and luckily she had enough to last her until the Queensland Wildlife Rehabilition Council was able to organize to get some of the special macropod formula to Gympie. Joe, Anne-Marie’s husband, had to do some skilful four-wheel driving to pick it up!

Jan Butler’s released kangaroos fortunately survived the raging flood waters of Fat Hen Creek, but the creek found a new path through their property.  The landscape was reshaped as trees were flattened like matchsticks.

Nature is cruel, but maybe she is claiming vengeance for the devastation wreaked on our earth and water by the big companies that rape, pillage and plunder our natural resources as if there is no tomorrow. It constantly amazes me that oil, coal, minerals, desalinization plants etc happen without any thought of how this can affect our planet in the long term, when these resources are continually drawn upon. A few academic ‘waffles’ are supposed to placate us all.  It is plain and simple logic that we cannot keep taking of a natural resource without it resulting in some planet change.

A noisy pitta recovers after being attacked by a cat. Image: Donna Anthony

Reflecting on World Environment Day, what have we done for the environment in the past year? Our Wildlife Volunteers Association, can be proud of its achievements this year, once again providing a 24-hour hotline for injured and orphaned wildlife.

So often, callers are just so grateful that they reach an actual person instead of the ubiquitous answering machine. This initial phone call is just the first step in the long process of rehabilitating a compromised animal on the way to its eventual release back into the wild.

In the past twelve months the world has attacked the technological arena with the usual great zeal, progressing in leaps and bounds, while seeing everything through the eyes of financial gain.

On the other hand, ‘e’ books could ultimately be good for the environment.  We must be optimistic about our future in the web of life, and strive for better.

I still walk through the supermarkets shaking my head. Who buys these spray cans of poison?

Why would someone spray toxins in their house, around their precious family, when a fly swatter, or equivalent, would achieve the same end?

It also defies all sensibilities to even consider buying some gadget that emanates artificial ‘smells’ throughout the house all day. What is wrong with fresh clean air?

Of course, it is all too simplistic. People have to be cajoled and encouraged to buy these products – to be convinced they can’t live without them.  Not enough profits can be made from the basics.  Give someone a bag of flour and sugar and just see how creative they can be in producing the next meal.

Insensitivity to the environment is a concern and that is probably why I am a wildlife carer.  People have different ways of attacking a problem. To me our native wildlife has to survive, in these tumultuous times, for we, as humans, to survive.

I have great admiration for anyone in any field of environmental sustainability. Many people see caring for wildlife as a joyous activity. Oh, if it was always so.

I have recently had to have a beautiful swamp wallaby euthanased. Chased into a dam by dogs, she was past rehabilitation when brought into care.

I do get angry about these preventable disasters. To add to the tragedy, this female had one elongated teat, which meant somewhere, out there, was a young orphaned wallaby, either killed by dogs or dying of starvation.

Why can’t people control their domestic animals? Is it that difficult? I love to see people out walking their dogs on leads. Everyone is a winner.

There are always some humorous days in wildlife care. A recent release of a wood duck had me ‘in stitches’.

On its day of release, it showed a preference for human company to its fellow ducks. I felt like a guilty parent sneaking away after leaving an infant in daycare.  Nevertheless, given just a couple of days, this young duck joined the other wood ducks of varying ages, on our dam. It was a happy release story.

We have other happy days, too. A Noisy Pitta, a bird which does not often come into our care, had been attacked by a cat.
Fortunately, the WILVOS  5441 6200 number was called and with immediate antibiotics that exquisite little bird was returned to its habitat after a week of dedicated nursing. The owners of the property had time to set up an aviary for the cat and all was well.
Over past years, people really have improved in some areas of pollution. I remember, as a child, the long drive, from the bush to the beach, on the traditional annual holiday and it was not uncommon to see the roadsides littered with bottles and rubbish.

Very few people in this day and age would just thoughtlessly throw rubbish out of a car window.

There is still some education to be done on the waterways.

Plastic bags and fishing line are still a major problem for our aquatic animals. The rings attached to jars and bottles are a never-ending worry. WILVOS have calls come through regularly to report animals trapped in these insidious pieces of plastic. Our Community Awareness Officer, Roslyn, was overjoyed when a class of schoolchildren presented her with a bagful of the rings they had collected from their homes. The young really are our future.

I was shocked at a photo showing a turtle converted to a figure 8 shape because one of the plastic rings off a large jar was encircling its middle.

It had been caught there as the poor animal continued to grow around it. Birds die of starvation as these rings choke them. Other animals try to remove these encumbrances, only to get their feet caught in the ring as well.  I would encourage everyone to lobby the producers of these many products and ask that these seals be redesigned.

Meanwhile, it is easy to remove these rings and  cut them  in one or two places before disposal in the recycling bin. We can all make a difference in our individual ways. It was suggested to me recently  that ringtail possums seemed to be one of the main mammals affected by urban development.

Pondering on the matter, it suddenly struck me that there was a good reason for this. The majority of the smaller marsupials have been decimated, their ground cover removed and the destroyed habitat leaving them no protection.

Ringtail possums are just the next step up in size to be affected.  The larger brushtail species, though also impacted upon, have the advantage of that additional size.  The ringtails are an easier target for domestic cats and dogs, which is the main reason why they come into our care.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is involved in a subsidised desexing program, and this is a major step in the much needed area of domestic animal responsibility and management.

I look forward to a future of cat curfews, cats housed in suitable aviary-like structures, and dogs confined to their yards, unless on a lead.

Designated areas are available for people to take dogs to play off the leash, and these areas hopefully will continue to be provided for pet owners. Ultimately, it would be good to see pet owners receive a subsidised desexing voucher when they register their animals.

They could then take this voucher to the vet, who would be recompensed on presentation to the council. If the community can take just small individual steps towards environmental awareness in the next year, the 2011 World Environment Day can be another day of celebration.

Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc. (WILVOS)  Ph: 54 416 200

We didn’t need a crystal ball 10 years ago to predict what was going to happen in southeast Queensland, and we don’t need a crystal ball now to see what is ahead for our wildlife. It is depressing!

A common brushtail possum that was found as a pinkie in the middle of the township of Coolum

This isn’t unique to southeast Queensland.  I  have been reading statistics from fauna returns in North Queensland, and the impact is also being felt there.

Queenslanders know we are in ‘God’s own country’, so why can’t we see the necessity to preserve the qualities we love.
We have the technology and the climate to make a difference.

Individual households can be responsible for their own power and water useage.  Funds should be going to every household to ensure self-sufficient alternative power sources (such as solar), and water catchment. This all effects our wildlife in the long run.

I intensely dislike visiting subdivisions where forests have been demolished to make way for housing blocks that daily look deserted.  Inhabitants are either working or at school. So why have a house and yard?

It is so much wasted space.  It would be kinder to our environment to encourage multi-storey development, and provide ample public space, sporting facilities,  bikeways and walkways  for the ever-growing population. The transport, fuel and energy savings alone would be phenomenal.

Simple ideas are never looked upon as a solution.  There always has to be a complicated,  expensive alternative.  Otherwise, it will not be taken seriously.

WILVOS’ fauna returns span almost a decade and they show that the number of calls to our hotline are ever-increasing, partly due to people being aware that there are people at the ready to help distressed wildlife.

Often, these calls are for advice, and it is wonderful that people are interested enough to ring up with their questions about local wildlife.

The days of ‘it’s just nature’ are hopefully fading, as people realise that such incidents as domestic animal attacks and  vehicle accidents are not ‘nature’  – they are a result of human impact.

However, there has been an increase in calls for some species, and a decrease in calls for others.  These are indicative of the effects of population growth. And either way it’s not good news.

From the coastal and fast-developing areas, we are receiving more daily calls about possums having their habitat destroyed.
Of course, the brushtail species are going to seek refuge in ceilings – there is hardly a hollow or sheltered area to be found.  Our ringtail possums are grateful for the palm trees, usually not native, but providing a good base in which to build their dreys (nests).

Unfortunately, when the fronds fall down, or the tree is removed, these animals are again displaced – that’s if they survive crashing to the ground. Refugees in their own country!

But even more depressing is the lack of calls about the glider species. Ten years ago, we were being called often about squirrel gliders and sugar gliders, even though their numbers were diminishing.

Now there are so few calls about gliders, that it is a challenge getting  a colony together for release. These animals, as with ringtail possums, cannot be released singularly.

Luckily, WILVOS have the expertise of an ecologist to assess release sites and chose suitable sites for our rehabilitated animals, which are returned to the wild in a nestbox.

Putting them up a tree on a few hectares is not enough.  All sites are becoming overpopulated as animals compete for territories, with adequate food and shelter.

Another obvious victim of development is the macropod.  We now receive far fewer calls about kangaroos and wallabies than we did 10 years ago – a 25 per cent decrease in some areas.  Other areas are totally bereft of macropod populations.
A tragedy that could have been foreseen, but it was more important to put up houses on 450 to 650 square metre blocks of ex-forest and grassland.

Whie development will always continue in this beautiful area, there are some peoeple who have taken on the responsibility of  helping  the previous inhabitants.

What happened to the bandicoots, echidnas, reptiles and birds that were once so commonly seen around southeast Queensland?

Tawny frogmouth chicks sit in a fragile nest made of a few sticks.  If they fall to the ground, the parents will care for them – but they are at the mercy of feral animals.

Urgent calls made to find help for injured and orphaned birds are soaring.
In some cases, nestling birds can be re-installed in a man-made nest up a tree near the parent birds, then observed to see if they are again being fed.

However, this cannot be done when the parents have been mauled by a cat or dog. But why is it so difficult to keep domestic pets contained? People do not think twice about putting a bird in a little cage, but the same persons would not build an enclosure for their cat, with activities installed to entertain it while they are away all day. In the meantime cat can be left at home to roam freely and do its bit to decimate the dwindling bird, reptile and marsupial population.

I believe that people, domestic pets and wildlife can live together. But we are supposed to be the superior species, so it is up to us to at least ease the developmental impact on our precious Australian native wildlife.

Putting a stop to what seems to be inexorable urban growth into our precious bushland would be a start. For more information visit the WILVOS website.

A tiny Feathertail Glider emerges from its log home. Image: Donna Anthony

In recent months there has been a great increase in orphaned and injured animals being reported on the WILVOS hotline.  It always makes me so aware of the value of this 24 hour a day, 365 days a year rescue number for distressed wildlife.

It is always a challenge to find enough people to man the phone line at the end-of-year holiday period, but  somehow the amazing WILVO phone roster co-ordinators manage, even though, I think, they end up doing many extra hours themselves!  Fortunately the hotline operates on a diversion system where volunteers answer the phone from their own homes, so it is easy to do a quick switch through if an emergency crops up and the rostered volunteer can’t do the rostered time.

With their habitats disappearing fast, it is a serious competition for food and housing for many animals.  There has been a large number of ringtail possums found out in the open and being harassed by birds.  When this happens high up in a tree, it is a waiting game. Often the ringtail just hasn’t made it back to the drey by sunup and the birds are not going to miss out on the opportunity of annoying anything that is a stranger in their area. Usually the possum will move onto  some covering foliage, or else the birds will get tired of their games, and nightfall finds the possum in its familiar secure  territory of darkness.

There has also been an increase in the number of smaller marsupials coming into care.  Human impact, unfortunately, is nearly always the cause.  Domestic pets and destruction of habitat are the main problems.   I actually had four little feathertails weighing only four grams each, and another four little antechinus weighing a tiny three grams each — all in care at the same time.

I seemed to just finish one feed and it was time for the next.  I look at these small native animals and wonder how any of them ever survive out there.  Just facing their natural native predators would be enough of a worry.

The dry, hot month of November meant that many native animals came into care very dehydrated.  Once injured or orphaned, dehydration soon takes a hold.  WILVO carers are always taught the secret for success in rehabilitation is warmth, dark, quiet and fluids – in that order.

An amazing variety of wildlife workshops were held throughout the year and a big year is planned for 2010. WILVOs take a pride in the fact that they have wildlife presenters from all over Australia. There are always new ideas, and these need to be shared if we wildlife carers are going to expand our knowledge.

The latter part of 2009 also saw a number of tawny frogmouths come into our care.  The young walk a thin line as they progress into adolescence.  Their first flight attempts often find them on the ground and they are not quite able to fly up to a branch.  The parents are very industrious and continue to feed the young as they learn the finer points of feeding and flying. Optimistically, while on the ground, they don’t meet up with straying domestic pets, or venture onto busy roads.

Hopefully, everyone helped our Australian native wildlife with Christmas presents which would help our environment.  My grandchildren helped their other grandmother in constructing ringtail possum dreys, which were given out as presents.  These wonderful dreys were made from native foliage, all intertwined around a base of stems of bracken fern.

Gifts such as possum and bird nest boxes, or native fruiting and flowering plants are always welcomed by our wildlife and help them through the hard times. They need all the help they can get.

HOTLINE Number: 54416200

Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS)

PO Box 2555 Nambour West  Q  4560

We often don’t see what our cats are killing during the day, or night. Image: greghardwick.com.au

This glider was dead — killed by a cat.  She had two exquisite little joeys in her pouch.  Though they are viable to rear as furless little babies, these two barely weighed three grams, so it was not a pleasant outcome.

I was really upset, as I have watched the demise of this species on the Sunshine Coast.  Ten years ago, we would get calls at least each week about gliders.  Now they might be every few months.

Why?  Because cats are the main culprits. Through habitat destruction, the gliders are forced into suburban areas, although this is not a problem if pets are contained.

I still hear incredibly stupid people saying  to me: “My cat is a real killer!”.  It is as if they are proud of it, or can’t do anything about it.    What gives a cat the right to kill even one bird, or one glider?

Cat owners often say: “Our cat doesn’t get any wildlife.”

When in fact we often don’t see what our cats are killing during the day, or night.  They are very clever animals.  I’m sure my last cat (and it was definitely my last cat) knew what to bring home and display and what to leave out of sight.

Yes, a feral mouse or rat is fine, although I wasn’t even terribly happy about that. But then I found a native animal, a bandicoot, and that was the end of the story.

I knew this wasn’t an isolated incident.  Once I let my cat out in the morning, he was still finding wildlife, regardless of bells, buzzers and electronic masterpieces.

Why is it so difficult for people to lock up their cats?   We don’t think twice about putting a bird, even a parrot, into a small cage, yet we won’t even ponder making a cat run.

Cats are introduced high-end predators, so our native animals have to be protected from them.  It is not “Nature” when a cat kills one of our native wildlife.   Sure, it is natural when a native raptor or reptile takes one of our animals.  I would not be happy about it, but that is true nature.

I cannot repeat often enough — cats are not native to the Australian landscape, so it is not natural to have our precious wildlife killed by these introduced animals.  I love cats as I love all animals — well maybe not love them as much as my squirrel and sugar gliders, but I respect all life.

So therefore I would never let a cat free range — day or night!

Why would anyone want their pet to wander freely outside, at the mercy of cars or dog attack?  I would want my cat safely contained on my own property, preferably in a cat run with lots of toys and activities to entertain it.

Please, if you want to do anything to help our wildlife, remind your neighbours and friends as often as possible, about the importance of protecting our wildlife.

My grandchildren are so young yet they are so upset to hear of what their friends’ pets do to our wildlife. Our pets, both cats and dogs, are major contributors to the extinction of native species.

Please, I do care for all animals and have my own pets, but I want to see humans, pets and wildlife surviving together in suburbia.  It is the only way our native Australian wildlife can survive.

***

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Wallabies and other macropods face an uncertain future as habitat is cleared. Image greghardwick.com.au

I wish that we could blame the decline of our Australian native species on one major influence such as climate change, but unfortunately that is not the only problem facing our wildlife.

Human impact, in many forms, have been the direct culprit from the moment humans stepped onto this beautiful country.  As the population has increased over the years, so has the devastation and pollution.

Constantly we are bombarded with the fact that habitat destruction is leading to the depletion of wildlife numbers.  Well, it would be imagined that by this time we would have actually done something, instead of just talking.

While Queensland mumbled on about changing legislation regarding clearing practices some years ago, property owners cleared their land ‘just in case’.

On a recent visit to North Queensland, I remembered the impact this proposed legislation had on the tree kangaroo populations up in the Tableland areas.

Wildlife carers see few of these unique animals now.  They became victims of cars and domestic pets as their habitat was cleared at an incredible pace for no purpose other than ‘we might need it cleared sometime in the future’.

Plastic rings at the top of these bottles are often found around birds’ necks.

In our south-eastern area of Queensland we saw the closing of the sugar mill in Nambour, which led to the demise of the cane-growing industry. The Government excelled itself by subsidising fencing so that cattle could be run on this land.

What a pity they didn’t have the sense to stipulate the type of fencing.  Once again, wildlife were given no consideration.  While many property owners are replacing their barbed wire with wildlife friendly fencing, others have been subsidised to install fencing which causes the  slow agonising death of gliders, birds, bats and macropods.

In our normal day-to-day existence, household rubbish holds many items detrimental to our wildlife. Plastic bags are not the only culprit.  Though everyone tries to recycle their plastic bottles, many are unaware of the dangers even when these bottles are properly recycled.  I have seen horrific images of what happens when the plastic rings at the top of these bottles are found around birds’ necks or turtles shells.  As the animal grows these rings do not disintegrate or break.

Hopefully, one day we will see these manufactured so that the rings break when the bottles are opened.  Until then, it is up to us to cut these plastic rings to prevent injuries to our animals.

Last but not least, the safety of all our Australian native wildlife depends on domestic animals being controlled. Another hope for the future is that laws on domestic pets will be updated and enforced.

The future of our wildlife depends on us as responsible human beings.

Majestic pelicans

As a wildlife carer I am always saddened by anything that negatively affects a country’s native animal population.  Unfortunately, it’s usually our species that is the crux of the problem.

I was recently appalled when watching a television program on the Galapagos Islands.  To see the amount of waste created by the increased visitors to the island was alarming, to say the least.  The resident population of the islands has almost doubled from 18,000 in 2004, as tourism creates new employment and business opportunities.

Often referred to as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, this paradise is just over a thousand kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, and is now a major tourist attraction.  It is bad enough that introduced species, both plant and animal, lead to habitat destruction and new diseases, but on top of that is the dilemma of mountains of garbage.

All that garbage and where to put it?  The animals will suffer, as if they haven’t endured enough with the increase in human visitors.  Earlier this year over fifty sea lions were battered to death. Legislation in Ecuador now allows seasonal harvesting of sea cucumbers, and illegal fishing, especially for shark fin, is rife.

Many of the animals in this once pristine environment are so trusting and haven’t learnt to fear humans.  The Islands are of course renowned for six species of giant tortoises.  Who could forget beautiful “Harriet” at Australia Zoo?

Here on the Sunshine Coast the WILVOS have seen the death of turtles, platypus and numerous other wildlife, following ingestion of garbage.  The culprit is predominantly plastic bags, from small bait bags in the case of the platypus to larger bags in all sizes and colours. Marine turtles are often observed as ‘floaters’ after swallowing plastic bags – they cannot dive for their food and die unless rescued.

Constantly, seabirds are being entangled in fishing line or have fishing hooks imbedded in their flesh (these hooks do not rust away in a few days).  However, fishing line affects not only seabirds.  We have seen carelessly discarded fishing line in nests of birds such as magpies.  They don’t see the danger in using it as nest-building material, but the young chicks often become entangled and consequently die.

The WILVOS recently held a workshop with Marny Bonner, from Ballina’s Australian Seabird Rescue, made us even more aware of the plight of the pelicans on the Sunshine Coast. Where discarded fishing line often ends up on the water’s edge and affects the waders, pelicans become victims at the heart of the fishing sites. If they swallow a hooked fish or a baited hook, the line is often just cut, and the poor pelican is forgotten.  We saw some very disturbing photos, even lines with two hooks attached, where one hook was in the pelican’s beak and the other in its leg.  The excruciating agony that animals have to go through because of our waste!

Marny also demonstrated the simplicity of dealing with pelicans.  Although they are one of the larger bird species, they cannot seriously harm us.  It is just a matter of catching the pelican (believe it or not, simple effective methods were shown – its’ not rocket science) and removing the hook or line immediately.

Because these entanglements and hook injuries happen so often, Marny impressed on everyone that the answer to the problem is having regular pro-active patrols.  After removing the hook and if no infection is evident the pelican can then be released. The birds quickly recover and very few pelicans need rehabilitation. Better for them, better for us! We can all do our bit towards waste management and make a difference.

Phrederick Phascogale (Image: Donna Anthony)

PHREDERICK, the brush-tailed phascogale, was a sad sight when Wilvos worker Sylvia Whiting first saw him. His head was bloodied and he had been lying on the road for some time, a probable hit and run victim. While this usually feisty little creature had miraculously survived, his future at that point was not looking promising.

But several weeks later, after many trips to the Woombye vet surgery for antibiotics and fluids, and much love and care lavished on him by the Pettet family from Nambour, he was healthy and strong enough to release back into the wild.

Phrederick, as we named him, is a Phascogale tapoatafa pirata, a sub-species that is found only in Queensland, according to the CSIRO. Differences in size, colour, fur length and number of teeth have been noted. I have never seen one in the wild, let alone handled one of these amazing little nocturnal mammals.

With a body length of about 15 cm and a unique brush tail which was a little shorter than his body, Phrederick was a give-away for identification when Wilvos received the call on their 5441 6200 hotline.

Brush-tailed phascogales often live in hollow trees near the roadside, which is probably why this young carnivorous marsupial was found in the middle of the road. Having multiple sites within home range, the phascogale does need to be protected from roadside clearing of trees which is often done without prior expert environmental assessment.

After the first week in care, frail Phrederick started to look at crickets and other potential food with renewed interest. Soon he was tearing into (dead) pinkie mice with the tenacity of a hungry lion while the Pettett family, who took on his long-term care, just about needed a bank loan to feed him.

Phascogales have a unique quality in that the number of teats in the species varies from one to eight across the different regions of Australia. Drought times and climate change have a major influence on these dasyurids. Often only four young are produced in drought time, whereas up to 13 young can be born in good seasons. A lactation period of up to five months seems an unusually long time for an animal which has such a short sweet life.

For Phrederick and the Wilvos it was a meeting of mutual benefit, with the young phascogale getting a new chance in life while the human carers were provided with a learning experience and the opportunity to glean and record new knowledge of these Australian native animals.

When frightened, Phrederick was seen to flatten himself against a branch, a good camouflage in his usually arboreal environment. Occasionally, if one listened closely, a most exquisite purring sound could be heard. He showed a distinct interest in little gliders when he saw them. Definitely not a species to house close by.

Releasing this strong, healthy young fellow back to his home site was a bitter sweet experience. This time of year sees the brush-tailed phascogale males tearing around their area competing for female attention. They have to be fit, as after all this high activity the actual copulation can last for several hours, with the female reportedly dozing off occasionally.

After this intense breeding season, the males die off. Even the females are lucky to live through to a second season. Combined with times of drought and habitat destruction the brush-tailed phascogale is going to find it difficult not to be added to Australia’s future list of extinct mammals.

Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.
(WILVOS). Phone (07) 5441 6200; PO Box
2555, Nambour West, Queensland 4560.

Our 54416200 hotline was running hot. Anne’s courses emphasised was not only caring techniques, but the responsibilities that we, as wildlife carers, have. Incorrect caring and release procedures can ultimately lead to the extinction of a species. This may sound tough but the facts are there. Diseases can spread very easily from our captive populations to our wild populations and we need to be very aware of this.

We were told of the harmful effects of encouraging congregations of wildlife. We all sat up when Dr Fowler said, “Bird feeders are just another name for public toilets in our back yards!”

I don’t put feed out for native animals, as I prefer to plant appropriate native shrubs, but I do put out freshly scrubbed water dishes each day. I guess hanging trays of clean water is not going to cause a mass migration to my yard, as happens with bird feeders. I wasn’t game ask! Too often grain is put out for our native wildlife and one shower of rain and the food is fermenting and toxic in no time, especially in our hot humid weather. Food can become spoiled within a matter of hours. Similarly, it is hoped that people will understand that they should never feed any bread to any wildlife.

Another point about which Anne was adamant was the fact that rehabilitating animals should be kept completely separate and far away from any native ‘pet’ animals we have. As an example, Anne explained the dangers of having ‘pet’ reptiles and then having them in close contact with any rehabilitating reptiles. The wild animals could be in care for a short time, but this can be just long enough to allow them to contract diseases or mites that could impact harshly when these rehabilitated animals are returned to the wild.

Being a vet, Anne sees the results of such things as snake mites Ophionyssus natricis that can cause havoc in our native reptile world. Again our actions could lead to the extinction of species. Scarey stuff!

It is rarely an easy process rearing orphaned animals through to release, so we want to do the best for all concerned and hopefully see the results of successful rehabilitation. I have just had a red-necked wallaby Macropus rufogriseus return after not seeing her for months. Last time I saw Jaqueline she had a small bulge in her pouch. Now her pouch is huge and out popped this cute furry little face. Definitely a successful release. After all the time, and often tears, put into rearing macropods, it is a joy to see them return with their offspring occasionally.

When fellow WILVO, Jo, originally picked up Jaqueline as a pink furless little joey, being ‘played with’ by a group of children, the chances of long-term survival were not looking too bright! She did a wonderful job!

For new wildlife carers, the most difficult part is probably recognizing the fact that these animals are not ‘pets’ – that they are to be nurtured in our care until they can be released back into their habitat at a suitable stage of development. It is then a joy to see them regain their freedom in the wild, where they belong.

Images: Greg Hardwick

If your family and friends aren’t environmentally inclined, or lack knowledge of our unique wildlife, then this is the time to help them understand. Gifts do not need to be expensive — there is nothing more special than a hand-made gift, so look in the shops, then go home and let the imagination run wild. Possum and bird nestboxes and cat aviaries come to mind.

Of course, my first recommendation would have to be to give a WILVO membership, as a Friend of WILVOS. For just $15 per year a whole family can receive the tri-monthly newsletter, discounted workshops and other bonuses. This may inspire them to later become further involved as an active carer of native wildlife. Speaking of workshops –why not buy them a ticket to one of the wonderful Dr Anne Fowler two-day workshops, which the WILVOS are presenting in February, 2008 with a 50 per cent discount for WILVO members. Anne is an amazing wildlife veterinarian, who can impart her knowledge in such a fascinating manner. One day deals with the husbandry and diseases of birds, the next, with marsupials.

The best way to feed our native wildlife is to provide native plants. Bread fed to birds, possums and kangaroos cause so many health problems for our poor wildlife, so why not feed them naturally by encouraging native gardening — fruit, nectar, and seed bearing plants are all welcome. Plants are always a welcome gift. Buying indigenous plants, whether they are trees, shrubs, or grasses, makes sense as they are adapted to local conditions.

Nest boxes for birds and mammals give year-round education and entertainment. Our wildlife can never have too many nest boxes. As development destroys their homes and animals find themselves surrounded by suburbia, your dry roof space suddenly becomes the best and only option for a safe home. Nest boxes give our wildlife their own home where they can safely raise their young.

Providing fresh clean water is another simple yet beneficial thing we can do. This is better than feeding non-native food to our wildlife. There are so many attractive water dishes to buy. When installing the dish, always place it high enough to reduce the risk of cat attack.

My all-time favourite gift is a cat aviary. Is there really a better way to protect your cat and native wildlife at the same time? You can then buy or make cat activity objects for future presents. Hammocks, hanging toys and scratching posts are fun and easy to make and give the cat some much needed enjoyment. Meanwhile the birds you have attracted to your garden are safe.

Toad traps and Indian Minor traps are a great idea to help eradicate these feral pests. However, it is important to look up advice and information from the relevant internet sites or government agencies beforehand. Don’t confuse the chocolate-brown coloured Indian Minor birds, with our native noisy miner. These native honeyeaters can be noisy, but tend to inhabit small remnants of sparsely-treed areas with little or no understorey.

Lastly, here’s one of my favourites — books, books, and more books! I can recommend Peter Andrews’ Back from the Brink. It is provocative reading, but should be on every bookshelf where farming land needs to be restored to its original state in the shortest time possible.

Wishing you all a very happy and safe Christmas festivity time.