Helping injured wildlife

Finding a sick, injured or orphaned native animal can be distressing. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, can give it the best chance and keep you safe. This guide is based on general advice from wildlife rescue organisations such as WIRES. Always follow the specific instructions of the rescue group or vet you contact.

This guide is general information written in our own words, based on the sources listed at the end. Rules about wildlife, pets and plants vary between states, territories and councils, so check locally. We don't recommend particular businesses or products. This guide isn't veterinary advice.

Safety first

Your safety comes first. Injured animals are frightened and in pain, and may bite, scratch or kick. WIRES advises that some animals should only be handled by trained and vaccinated rescuers, including:

• snakes and goannas;
• bats and flying-foxes (which can carry Australian bat lyssavirus);
• large macropods such as kangaroos and wallaroos;
• adult wombats;
• koalas;
• raptors (birds of prey).

If you find one of these, keep people and pets away, watch it from a safe distance and call a rescue organisation. If you're bitten or scratched by a bat, seek medical advice promptly.

Who to call

• Wildlife rescue groups: in NSW, WIRES runs a 24/7 rescue line on 1300 094 737. Other states and regions have their own organisations; save your local number in your phone.
• Vets: many vets will assess injured wildlife. Call ahead to check.
• State agencies: your state environment department can direct you to licensed carers.

Containing an animal safely

If the animal is small and safe to handle, WIRES' general advice is:

1. Gently cover the animal with a towel or light cloth.
2. Carefully pick it up and place it in a ventilated cardboard box or container lined with a towel.
3. Keep the box in a warm, dark, quiet place, away from children, pets and noise.
4. Get it to a vet or rescue group as soon as possible.

Darkness and quiet reduce stress, which can be life-threatening for wild animals.

Don't feed or give water

It's tempting to offer food or water, but WIRES advises against it unless a rescue organisation tells you to. The wrong food can make animals sick, and injured animals may choke or inhale water.

Animals caught by cats

Any animal caught by a cat needs urgent vet assessment, even if it looks unhurt, because bacteria from cat bites and scratches can be fatal to wildlife. See our pets and wildlife guide.

Baby birds

Young birds are often found on the ground. Some are fledglings, partly feathered and learning to fly while their parents feed them nearby. They may not need rescue, but call a rescue group for advice before moving one. Unfeathered nestlings need help. Keep pets away while you seek advice.

Wildlife on roads

If it's safe, check animals hit by cars. Female marsupials may have live young in the pouch. Never stop in an unsafe location; only check when you can do so safely, and call a rescue group for help. Don't attempt to remove joeys yourself.

Don't keep wildlife

It's illegal in most places to keep native wildlife without a licence, and caring for wildlife requires training. Animals raised by untrained people often can't survive release. Hand animals over to licensed carers.

Becoming a volunteer

Many rescue groups train volunteers in rescue, transport, care, phone support and fundraising. If you'd like to help, contact your local group about training.

Preventing harm

• Drive carefully at dawn and dusk in wildlife areas.
• Keep cats contained and dogs supervised.
• Remove or cover netting and secure rubbish.
• Check before mowing long grass.

See our everyday actions guide for more ideas.

Heat stress and drought

During heatwaves, wildlife such as flying-foxes, birds and possums can suffer heat stress. Providing shallow water dishes in shaded spots, placed where pets can't reach, can help. If you see animals in distress during extreme heat, don't approach bats or flying-foxes; call a wildlife rescue group.

Wildlife in your home

Sometimes animals wander indoors, such as birds, possums or lizards. Stay calm, close internal doors, open an exit and give the animal space to leave on its own. If it can't leave, or if it's a snake or bat, call a wildlife rescue group or licensed relocator.

After bushfires and floods

After natural disasters, wildlife may be displaced, injured or short of food and shelter. Follow guidance from wildlife organisations and your state agency rather than acting alone. Well-meaning actions, such as putting out the wrong food, can sometimes cause harm.

Try the habitat checker

Our free habitat checker asks about eight simple features of your garden or balcony, such as local plants, water, dense shrubs, leaf litter and night lighting. It gives you a quick count and three practical next steps. It runs entirely in your browser, and nothing you tick is sent anywhere. It's a simple way to turn the ideas in this guide into action at home.

Where our information comes from

Factual statements in our guides are based on expert and official sources, including the Australia State of the Environment 2021 report and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; the Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum and Museums Victoria; wildlife rescue organisations such as WIRES; BirdLife Australia; and the Atlas of Living Australia. We link to each source at the end of the page and rewrite everything in our own words.

Local rules vary

Australia's states, territories and councils each have their own rules about native wildlife, pets, weeds, pest control and development. A practice that's fine in one area may need a permit, or be banned, in another. When a guide mentions rules, treat it as a prompt to check your own state environment agency and council website. If in doubt, ask them directly before acting.

Acknowledging Country

Australia's biodiversity has been cared for by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for tens of thousands of years. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. Many local councils and land councils share information about the Traditional Owners of your area, and some run programs connecting people with Country.

Learn with others

You don't have to learn alone. Field naturalist clubs, birding groups, Landcare and bushcare groups, frog societies and native plant societies run walks, talks and working bees across Australia. Libraries and museums often host free events. Joining a group is one of the fastest ways to learn identification skills and meet people who care about local wildlife.

Small spaces still count

Not everyone has a garden. Renters and apartment dwellers can still help with pots of flowering natives, a shallow water dish on a balcony, warmer outdoor lights and a contained cat. Community gardens, school grounds and local parks offer further chances to plant habitat and record wildlife. Every patch of habitat, however small, adds to the network.

Tell us what you think

We review our guides regularly against their sources. If you notice something out of date, have a question we haven't answered or spot an error, please let us know through our contact page. We read every message and correct mistakes promptly.

A quick checklist

If you only remember a few things from our guides, make them these: plant local natives in layers; provide clean, shallow water; leave some leaf litter and logs; keep cats contained and dogs supervised; use warm, shielded outdoor lights only when needed; avoid garden chemicals; never move or release animals; and record what you see. Small, consistent actions add up across a neighbourhood.

Key points

• Your safety comes first; some animals need trained rescuers.
• Cover, box, and keep the animal warm, dark and quiet.
• Don't give food or water unless a rescuer says so.
• Call a rescue group or vet as soon as possible.