How does Wildlife Rescue differ from WIRES?

Wildlife Rescue Inc is a specialist, statewide rescue organisation. It does not care for (or rehabilitate) native animals, as do licenced organisations such as WIRES.

Wildlife Rescue is a voluntary association, independent of any licenced organisation or Government body.

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How does your rescue system operate?

Wildlife Rescue has a central office and call centre with state-of-the-art computer software. This enables our phone coordinators to link a caller (and hence animal) anywhere in NSW with the nearest authorised carer or rescuer. Depending on circumstances, arrangements may be made for a caller to take the animal to a vet or carer, or a rescuer may be provided.

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Does Wildlife Rescue need authorisation to operate?

No.  Anyone can rescue a native animal, although it is best done by an experienced rescuer. A licence is needed only if a person cares for a protected native animal.

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How does Wildlife Rescue interact with groups like WIRES

Wildlife Rescue is not affiliated with any licenced or non-licenced group. Our call centre service, however, is available free-of-charge to any rescue group which wishes to be relieved of the onus of finding phone volunteers, rescuers and the associated costs.

Individual members of such groups may affiliate with Wildlife Rescue by choice, thus indicating they are available to assist in rescues and/or accepting rescued animals into care.

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Where may I find further information?

Full details of Wildlife Rescue Inc, including how to join and membership requirements, can be found on this website.

I awake early to his soft calls drifting across the hall. I quietly peep into his room; as the saying goes – he’s wide eyed and bushy tailed, although still snuggled happily in his blanket. The air feels icy this morning, thoughts of climbing back into bed and to wrap myself in the feather doona fleetingly enters my mind, instead I make my way to the kitchen. I prepare his formula, attach his teat to his bottle and test the milk’s temperature on my wrist.

He is still lying in his bed, all cosy and cuddly on his heated blanket. His tiny hand reaches out and his delicate fingers wrap around mine. The adoration is shining from his eyes, openly apparent. I am aware he knows we are somehow different, that something is out of place, but he is naively accepting.

We settle down, just the two of us, in front of the smouldering fire. He grasps his bottle hungrily. He lies contentedly in my arms; his beautiful eyes framed with their long black lashes connect eloquently to mine. He holds tight to his bottle, already showing how capable he is becoming. I sit quietly, listening to his soft suckling as he finishes his warm milk.

I notice how quickly he grows, each day the subtle changes to his features. He’s not like me at all. His eyes seem much too large, his ears cutely protrude from his tiny head, but there is no denying he has the face of an angel, and his hair is oh, so soft and silken. He has that sweet baby perfume, a fragrance that no-one can reproduce nor resist. He can tug at the heartstrings of the toughest, this sweet young one.

I lovingly wipe his little milky moustache. I tickle his velvety pink stomach and he pushes my hands away squirming to wriggle free. He kicks out playfully, his bright eyes sparkling with life. We lay on the mat, basking in the winter sun streaming through the window. We are happy in each others company, enjoying this time that’s just for the two of us. He clambers all over me, tugging at my hair, his little nails tangle in its length.

His adorable face gently rubs against mine and his kisses are soft and wet on my nose and cheek. I hold him close and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He is captivated by my voice, attentive to my every word. There’s no need for him to respond, all that he feels is shown clearly on his expressive little face.

I carry him outside and introduce him to my special place, the garden. I pick new spring blossom and let him smell its sweet scent. He gazes in wonder at the open blue sky and the green of the grass. He breathes deep the fresh air and I can see his pleasure in the cool breeze caressing his face. He listens alertly to new sounds; the rustle of the leaves, the distant bark of a dog, the birds singing from the trees, whilst always knowing he is secure and safe in my arms, that I will protect him at all costs.

He grows sleepy and his eyes struggle to stay open. I wrap him firmly in his blanket and gently place him in his bed. He holds tight, not wanting to be separated, reluctant to let me go. I reassure him and tenderly tuck him in, checking once more he is warm. His drowsy brown eyes follow my every move but I know that not long after I leave he will settle into a deep sleep. He’s a wonderful sleeper, this little one, always content to doze through the daylight hours.

It’s not all harmony though. At times we are out of sync with each other. He cannot understand why during the night I am reluctant to play, that I desperately need him to drink his bottle and go back to sleep. He is alive with energy and enthusiasm, trying to entice me to stay longer, using his cute, cheeky antics to sway my better judgement. He doesn’t realise that I, too, need my sleep, that I cannot sit up to the wee hours keeping him company, amusing him night after night.

Unfortunately, time passes so fast, a reminder to treasure each moment we spend together, and with sadness I accept, that all too quickly his need for me will recede. His independence grows strong with each day and I know all too soon, I must let him make his own way in life.

I’ll remember the first time he climbed a tree and how nervously I watched, mindful of any falls – not that he ever fell, his balance is so much better than mine and he doesn’t display my fear of heights. I’ll visualise his first taste of an orange, his little nose wrinkling from the bitter sweet juice. When I bite into a piece of fruit, I’ll recall our times in the kitchen preparing our favourite meal, fruit salad; the way we shared a banana, or an apple – a piece for you, a piece for me. Our combined pleasure from summer’s best, the juiciest peaches, rich ripe rockmelons and the sweetest strawberries picked straight from our vegetable garden. I’ll laugh at our oddness when eating muesli – how we would both pick out the crystallized fruit pieces first. Maybe he is a bit like me after all – we both have a weakness for sweets and both are at our happiest outdoors.

I’ll remember our shared love of the garden, especially his of roses and the way he would bury his face in their soft petals, small pieces of yellow pollen stuck fast to his nose. I watched how he was drawn to particular flowers and trees, how he noticed subtle differences in textures and aromas. His appreciation of nature is so much deeper than mine.

I admire his gentle acceptance of my short comings in some of the finer aspects of motherhood. I hope he understands my withdrawal as he grows older and that it is for both our sakes, that I would never do anything intentionally to hurt him, and I’m sure he’ll recognise my need to instil a fear of strangers in him – that sadly, not everyone can be trusted.

I will feel the heartbreak when he leaves home and hope he knows that I have not forgotten him, that I still worry for him – which helps explain my silly behaviour when I leave fresh fruit and vegetables on his doorstep.

I fret I may not have given him all the skills he will need out there, but I know deep inside I have done my best. I know he has had all the love and affection I have to give and a small piece of my heart will go with him when he decides the time is right.

In return he has given me, and those who were fortunate to meet him, a more sympathetic view of our world around us – an insight into how fragile nature is, encouragement to appreciate, and protect our environment for future generations to experience and enjoy. And above all, he has shown me that all life is precious and that one small act of love and kindness can make a difference.

I shake off my sorrow and replace it with a faint smile as I remember another face, not so long ago, just as sweet as his, who too, captivated my heart; and I know that inevitably another, with large soulful eyes, will come and share our home and our life.

You see -‘he’ is an orphaned baby brushtail possum and I am his proud surrogate mother.

Wildlife Rescue Inc has applied for and received a grant of $5,000 from the Federal Government under the Volunteer Grants 2011 scheme.
This grant will assist WRI in installing up-to-the-minute software on our computer system to facilitate fast and efficient rescues of native animals in distress.
It will also aid in the day-to-day running of our office and Call Centre and assist in the professional training of members to rescue various types of wildlife and to give appropriate advice to callers.

Wildlife Rescue Inc offers the services of its 24/7 Call Centre, free of charge, to organisations throughout regional NSW which are engaged in the rescue of native wildlife.

This will relieve such organisations not only of the need to find “phonies” and their associated difficulties, but also the cost of reimbursing phone calls to its members (if applicable).

WRI also provides a rescue service for native animals in need in the Coffs Harbour region. Any animals rescued by WRI members are taken immediately to a carer authorised by NPWS or (if required) to a vet for treatment.

This rescue service can relieve members of authorised groups of involvement in rescues and allows them  to concentrate on the welfare of animals in their care.

As our association is still in its infancy, there is limited capacity for both incoming phone calls and rescue activities until expansion is completed.

Any association wishing to take advantage of this offer should contact admin@wildliferescue.net.au.

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When a family living near Corinda recently heard what they thought was a strange sounding frog on their roof, they went out to investigate. They found a small, very frightened brushtail possum.

They recognised it as one they had been watching coming and going around their verandah, clinging to its motherʼs back. But now there was no sign of mum, and the little one was obviously distressed.

A friend, who belongs to both WIRES and Wildlife Rescue, was called. She advised to keep it warm and quiet in a basket, wrapped in a blanket for the short time needed until it could be picked up.

This was quickly accomplished and Tillie is now doing well with her new “mum”, an authorised carer in WIRES.

When Tillie has reached the size and weight to be independent, she will be returned to her original home and released back into the wild.

The family who saved her will put a possum nesting box in a tree on their property for her to live in so she wonʼt have to compete with other possums for housing space.

Possums are very territorial and this is why adults cannot be relocated and why juveniles must be introduced with care into an area.

With her own nesting box to move into, and the family to keep a watch on progress, Tillie will hopefully be able to settle into the local possum population.