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 »
Wildlife may cause injury if not handled correctly or have diseases that can infect people. You should not attempt to rescue a native animal if you don’t have the proper skills. If it is safe for both you and the animal, here are some things you can do while waiting for a wildlife rescuer
General Advice for Handling Wildlife 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
Avian influenza (also known as ‘bird flu’) is a virus that typically infects birds. Strains of avian influenzas may be low pathogenicity (does not usually cause serious disease) or high pathogenicity (capable of causing serious disease). Since 2021, a new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been circulating around the world and causing
Avian Influenza (‘Bird flu’) Read More »
