Riverina Wildlife Health
DO NOT TOUCH OR HANDLE Birds of Prey. Birds of Prey (also known as Raptors) are eagles, hawks, owls and similar birds. They are hunting birds with very strong talons and large beaks which can cause serious injuries in people. If you have identified a sick or injured Bird of Prey contact WIRES […]
Exercise Caution with Birds of Prey (Raptors) Read More »
Birds of Prey (also known as Raptors) are hunting birds such as eagles, hawks and owls. Many Bird of Prey species in Australia feed on small mammals, including rodents. This means that they be exposed to rat and mouse poison by eating a poisoned animal – this is known as secondary poisoning. Most rat
Rat/mouse Bait Toxicity in Birds of Prey (raptors) Read More »
Chytrid fungus causes a fungal infection in the skin of frogs and is the most important cause of frog population declines in Australia and globally. Chytrid fungus is present in NSW and is expected to be present in the Riverina. Affected frogs may appear normal, have red skin or increased skin shedding, or may
Chytrid fungus in Australian Frogs Read More »
Sarcoptic mange is caused by infestation with the skin mite Sarcoptes scabei. It primarily affects wombats, feral red foxes, wild dogs and dingoes but many other species can be affected. Infection causes hair loss and thickening of the skin. In wombats in particular, the disease is very severe and cracks in the thick skin can
Sarcoptic Mange in Wildlife Read More »
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, camelids (includes alpacas, llamas and camels) and buffalo. FMD does not affect horses, or companion animals such as dogs and cats. FMD is not the same as hand-foot-and-mouth disease which is a common disease in young children.
Foot and Mouth Disease Read More »
DO NOT TOUCH OR HANDLE venomous snakes. Australia has many species of venomous snakes which can inflict a fatal bite. Most snake bites occur when people are attempting to handle or injure a snake. If you are unable to identify the species of snake, you should treat it as though it is venomous.
Exercise Caution with Venomous Snakes Read More »
Female marsupials carry their young (called joeys) in a pouch outside their body. The joey is quite protected inside the pouch and may survive a traumatic event that kills the mother. Therefore, it is very important to check the pouch of deceased female marsupials to make sure that there is no live joey inside.
Orphaned Pouch Young Read More »
Many young birds will leave the nest and spend several days on the ground while they are learning to fly. This process is called fledging, and birds of this age are called fledglings. Fledgling birds will usually have mostly smooth adult feathers with a few fluffy feathers. They should be bright and active and may
You have reported a mass bird mortality event (more than 10 birds found dead) in your area. These events are significant and may be due to an outbreak of disease, exposure to toxins or pollutants, or other causes. Birds may function as an indicator species for a problem in the ecosystem, including possible threats to
Mass Bird Mortality Read More »
Frogs and other amphibians are very sensitive to changes in their environment and may show the effects of these changes sooner than other species in the same location. Australia is home to over 200 species of frog, most of which are only found here. To protect these unique species, it is very important to understand
General Frog Advice Read More »
