What to do when you find injured wildlife in Brisbane

We’re very lucky to have an abundance of natural wildlife around us here in South East Queensland but sometimes they can be injured by motor vehicles. Possums, Koalas, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Native Birds and Reptiles all live in our national parks, bushlands and backyards so it’s important we are extra careful when we’re driving and know what to do when we see or cause an accident on the road. As we enter the warmer months of the year, there are a few things you can remember that can help us protect these animals and their young.

Here’s what you can do if you find a sick or injured animal

Be aware of the environment around you 

Droves of Australia’s wildlife come out at night, and move around more than they do in the daytime. Some animals are nocturnal, and some are just shy! You might see possums along the back fence, echidnas waddling along or kangaroos jumping across roads. Dawn and dusk are key times to be on the lookout when you’re driving, especially so in the warmer months when animals are entering the mating season. 

Whether you’re in a suburban area or travelling out a bit more rural, it definitely gets colder at night. However the roads are still warm from the day so it’s common to see cattle sleeping on and near roads. If you live near cattle or animals that like to do this, keep this mind and mention it to any tourists or new residents you meet.  

That said, animals can be very jumpy, and we don’t just mean kangaroos. If you pass animals on the road at night, be sure to use your high beam lights to increase visibility and brake gently to give the animals time to move away. Kangaroos, for example, may be dazed by the lights and not move so in this case it can be helpful to use your horn. When there’s one Kangaroo, there’s always more so be aware that there may be others down the path or behind your vehicle. 

It is helpful to know that areas with dense wildlife are well signposted, and this can give you some warning of dangers down the road. Keeping to designated roads and paths are essential for your safety. Remember that as clever as our animals are, they can’t read the signs so it’s up to us to keep our eyes peeled. 

Make sure you’re prepared 

Scheduled maintenance on your motor vehicle is encouraged for many reasons, however having your vehicle’s brakes, horn and headlights checked specifically before you travel can save more than just animal lives. Having things like spare blankets, gloves, flashlights and water can also be helpful tools. Being certain that you can slow down in poor visibility areas, at night or in areas where you know animals are known to dwell, will give you a better chance of avoiding collisions. This of course reduces the chances of injury to yourself and the animal, as well as damage to your motor vehicle. 

In most suburban and some rural areas, signs have been put up in wildlife dense areas with contact numbers to call for help if you spot injured animals. It can be helpful to put these details in your phone for your local area and even find the relevant details if you are going away on a trip to somewhere new. You never know when you may need assistance or if another motorist might. 

Additionally, it is against the law to throw anything like rubbish or food scraps from your vehicle. It can attract wildlife to the roads which increases the chances of them being injured or killed. If you and your family are going on a day trip or weekend away, it’s a good idea to have some plastic bags handy for this and even to collect other bits of rubbish which may be left around to stop animals choking on harmful plastics. You can act responsibly to protect the future of native wildlife by ensuring there’s no trace of your visit to an area.

Act fast 

When coming across or accidentally hitting an animal on the road it’s important to stop, pull over and check the wellbeing of your passengers before inspecting your vehicle after the accident. 

If the animal has been killed, use gloves to move the animal off the side of the road so other animals don’t dwell near passing vehicles. Honking your horn will scare off predators and other wildlife that feed by scavenging and reduce the chance of these animals being injured. 

If the animal is injured, and you can then safely contain and inspect, check for young and keep them warm with the spare blankets in your car. It may be a good idea to use gloves to protect yourself from any infections the animal may be carrying. 

If you find a sick or injured animal

You can then contact the RSPCA’s 24/7 Animal Emergency Hotline which is 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or take it to the  RSPCA Wildlife Hospital in Brisbane – 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol. Our campus is also next door and, often, we need volunteers to assist our trainers during our sessions where we teach participants how to care for animals. 

You can learn more about our programs for animal care and handling here.

You can also enquire about volunteering using this link.