Wildlife rescuers call for residents’ alerts

A WILDLIFE rescue group active in the region’s south is calling for residents’ help.

Bannockburn Wildlife Rescue want locals to alert them about injured wildlife after some of their members spotted two wallabies in May on the side of the road.

Group founder and director Angela Sumner said they were shocked the macropods had been hit, yet no one had reported them.

“We only knew about the incidents because our team happened to be driving those routes,” she said.

Sumner said the group posted about the issue on Facebook last month.

“Our main goal with the post was to highlight how important it is for people to report these incidents quickly,” she said.

“A fast call can sometimes mean the difference between life and death – especially if a joey is still alive in the pouch or the animal is still suffering.

“We also wanted to reassure people that they don’t need to stop and move the animal themselves or put themselves at risk.

“They can simply call us, drop a Google pin, and take a photo if it’s safe to do so. Every report helps.”

Sumner said alerts to wildlife offers rescuers possibilities that could benefit the community.

“In those cases, the call still allows us to check the pouch for a surviving joey – something we’ve successfully rescued many times,” she said.

“We also safely remove the body from the road. This prevents further crashes.

“Even in cases where the animal doesn’t survive, the call still helps. It allows us to record roadkill hotspots, which can support calls for better signage, speed limits, or wildlife crossings in the future.”

The group registered as a charity in September 2024.

“As volunteers, we’re driven by the chance to make a real difference,” Sumner said. “Whether that’s euthanising an animal to end its pain humanely, rescuing a tiny joey from its mother’s pouch, or simply getting an injured animal the care it needs.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than releasing a recovered wallaby back into the bush or knowing a joey gets a second chance at life because someone made a call.”

For more information, to volunteer or report injured wildlife, phone 0430 212 653.