Help sick or injured wildlife

This page outlines what you can do and who to contact if you find sick or injured native or non-native wildlife.

Only people authorised under a rescue and rehabilitation permit may take a native animal or bird into care. Rehabilitating native wildlife without a permit is illegal and can lead to prosecution.

You are not allowed to keep rescued native animals or birds as pets.

Safety

Wildlife may react suddenly and jump, kick, bite, scratch, or stab with their beak, depending on the species. This presents a risk of disease transmission between humans and wildlife.

Never handle snakes, bats or flying foxes – call a wildlife organisation immediately.

Hygiene

There is a possible disease transmission risk between humans and wildlife, and between wildlife and other domestic or captive animals. This applies to handling:

• sick, injured or orphaned live animals
• recently dead animals, such as roadkill.

You must wash your hands with soap and water after any contact with birds or animals, and avoid eating or drinking around them.

In addition, use gloves, long sleeved shirts and trousers, boots, and eye protection wherever possible when handling wildlife.

In emergency situations, try to use a plastic bag over the hand, or a stick, or a shovel, to move and dispose of dead animals without the need to touch them.

For more detailed information see the National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines.

Native species

Wildlife carer organisations can provide advice on what to do and whether the bird or animal needs veterinary attention. They may know which veterinarians are appropriate for that species.

Find contact details for your local wildlife care organisation on Facebook or by searching the internet using terms such as:

• wildlife care
• fauna rescue near me.

Give them as much information as possible about the animal’s location and condition, so they can help.

If it is not possible to contact a wildlife carer organisation, contact your nearest vet as soon as possible so the animal receives appropriate treatment.

Bats

Do not touch or handle a bat. They may carry diseases that are potentially fatal to humans and animals.

Learn what to do if you find a sick or injured bat, or if you are scratched, bitten or encounter bat saliva.

Marine mammals

Learn what to do if you find a beached, stranded or sick marine mammal.

Non-native species

For a non-native species, contact the RSPCA South Australia or take it to a vet if safe to do so.

Help wildlife while waiting for a rescuer

If you have arranged for a wildlife carer organisation to rescue the animal, you should stay if possible and observe the animal until the rescuers arrive.

Always consider danger to yourself first, then assess your risk before approaching wildlife. Keep a safe distance if you do not feel comfortable near the animal.

If it is safe, take these steps to help wildlife while waiting for a rescuer:

1. Cover the animal with a towel or blanket to make it easier to capture, if the animal is already calm.
2. If small enough, try to keep the animal calm and safe by placing it in a cardboard box or covered cage. Make sure the box or cage is secure so the animal can’t escape, and put it in a quiet undisturbed dark place.
3. Do not offer any food or water to the animal unless advised by a veterinarian or the wildlife rescuer.
4. If it is an orphaned young animal or a bird, it will need to be kept warm.
5. Keep any pets and people well away from the area as stress from sight, noise or handling can kill it.

Check dead birds and mammals

A dead marsupial may have live young in its pouch, so check females for joeys. Wildlife rescuers often mark dead animals they have already checked with paint.

Only if it is safe to do so, move dead animals away from roads as their predators could be in danger of becoming roadkill.

If you see unusual signs of disease, or if you find 3 or more dead birds or animals that have not been killed by car impact or obvious trauma, these must be reported to the below hotline.