What to do if you find injured wildlife in Brisbane

People and wildlife live in close proximity to one another in Brisbane, and so it is sadly only a matter of time before wildlife will be injured or killed.

Knowing what to do if you find injured wildlife in Brisbane can make all the difference to its chances of survival and recovery.

That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services in South East Queensland.

We’ve also included some tips for handling and caring for injured wildlife while you’re waiting for specialist help.

It’s a great way to show your Brisbane Kids how to be compassionate and caring towards animals.

Wildlife Rescue Organisations in South East Queensland

To report sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, you can call one of the following organisations:

RSPCA – 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) 

The RSPCA Call Centre is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week for advice and referral.

Wildcare Australia (07) 5527 2444

This group of wildlife volunteers can be contacted 24 hours per day, seven days per week and are specially trained and equipped to rescue and rehabilitate animals in the South East Queensland area.

Brisbane Area Rescue Network (BARN) 0405 056 066

You can call 24 hours per day to report native wildlife in need of help across Brisbane and surrounding areas, including Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Moreton Bay Koala Rescue 0401 080 333

This is the number to call, 24 hours per day, for the rescue and care of injured or sick koalas across the Moreton Bay Region, including Caboolture, Redcliffe and Pine Rivers.

Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD  0488 228 134

This 24 hour rescue hotline is available if you find a sick or injured flying fox or microbat.

Bat Rescue Inc. 07 5441 6200

This is another 24hr rescue hotline for bats and flying foxes in need of help.

Bribie and District Wildlife Rescue Inc  0400 836 592

Call this 24 hour rescue hotline if you find an injured bird, possum or other animal around the Bribie Island, Caboolture, Morayfield, Narangba, Redcliffe and Clontarf areas.

Fostercare of Australia’s Unique Native Animals Association Inc 1300 FAUNA1 

Call 1300 328 621, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for emergencies involving all native animals including birds.

Ipswich Koala Protection Society  07 5464 6274 or 07 3282 5035

This organisation will rescue and rehabilitate all native wildlife, and will pick up deceased koalas. They have two animal ambulances that operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Orphaned Native Animal Raise and Release Association 07 3030 2245

Call if you need help with possums, wallabies, kangaroos, reptiles, gliders or bats. 

Pelican and Seabird Rescue Inc. 0404 118 301 

You can call this rescue hotline 24 hours per day, seven days per week to arrange the rescue and rehabilitation of pelicans, aquatic and seabirds, and all species of injured flighted birds in South East Queensland (from Noosa to Jacobs Well and from Ipswich to the Moreton Bay islands).

Pine Rivers Koala Care Association 0401 350 799

This service (with animal ambulance) is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the  rescue and rehabilitation of koalas and all native wildlife in the Pine Rivers, Redcliffe and surrounding areas. They will also pick up deceased koalas.

Redlands 24 hr Wildlife Rescue service 07 3833 4031

There is a telephone advice service operating between 8am until 5pm daily, and a wildlife rescue ambulance available from 5pm until 8am daily. They will help all native animals in the koala coast and Redlands area.

Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue 07 5439 9995 or 0421 476 561

This is a 24 hour rescue and rehabilitation service for seabirds, waterbirds and native birds and other Australian native animals, based on the Sunshine Coast.

Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc. (WILVOS) 07 5441 6200

Also based on the Sunshine Coast, this 24-hour, seven-day emergency line is available to help all native animals.

Wildlife hospitals – south-east Queensland

It’s a good idea to check first if your local vet can help. If not, you can try one of the following wildlife hospitals:

Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital 07 5534 0813

This is a free community service and is open from 8am until 5pm, seven days per week.  They accept, treat and rehabilitate all injured wildlife (not just native wildlife). The hospital is located on Millers Drive at Currumbin.

Australian Wildlife Hospital 1300 369 652

This hospital, which is located at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, offers a 24-hour wildlife emergency phone number. They will collect, treat and rehabilitate all native wildlife.

RSPCA Wildlife Hospital 1300 ANIMAL

The Brisbane shelter and wildlife hospital is located at 139 Wacol Station Road, Wacol. The hospital provides free treatment, rehabilitation and release of animals.

How to provide initial care to sick or injured wildlife in Brisbane

The information provided below is a summary of the advice given on the Wildcare web site and can be applied to injured native animals, reptiles or birds:

• Do not attempt to handle snakes, bats, adult koalas, adult kangaroos or adult wallabies as they can cause serious injury.
• If it is safe to do so, pick the animal up using a towel or blanket, being careful to avoid being scratched or bitten. Most small animals can be picked up in this manner – place the towel or blanket over the animal (including its head) and pick it up like you would a small load of washing.
• Place the animal in a cardboard box lined with a towel or blanket. The towel will give the animal something to cling to so that it doesn’t slide around in the box. Make sure that you put some ventilation holes in the box first!
• Place the box securely in your car (not the boot as exhaust fumes can kill the animal). Make sure that the lid is securely closed so that the animal cannot escape.
• If you cannot obtain immediate assistance, keep the animal in a warm, dark place and keep noise to a minimum to avoid stress. Remember the animal is in unfamiliar territory and unfamiliar noises and smells can be extremely stressful to a native animal. Our native animals can die very quickly from stress.
• Do not offer any food or water as native animals have very specialised diets and feeding an animal in shock can be fatal.
• Take the animal to your nearest vet or contact your local wildlife rescue organisation or government wildlife authority as soon as possible. Vet clinics and rescue organisations do not charge to accept wildlife.
• Remember some animals do not require rescuing, for example some baby birds are left for a short time while their parents forage for food. Unless the animal is in immediate danger, just keep an eye on it to ensure a parent returns to care for the baby. Removing a baby bird unnecessarily can be very detrimental to its well-being. If in doubt, contact your local wildlife organisation for advice.
• If you find a kangaroo, wallaby, possum, koala or wombat that has been injured, make sure you check the pouch – joeys have been known to survive in the mother’s pouch following her death for several days. Do not remove the joey from the mother’s teat as irreparable damage can be done to the joey’s mouth if removed from the teat incorrectly. If possible, take the mother and joey intact to your nearest vet for attention or alternatively call your local wildlife organisation for their assistance.