Helping Wildlife in Distress
If you come across injured or stranded wildlife in the Shoalhaven, use this flowchart to help decide what to do next.
For further advice about injured and stranded wildlife, click on the tabs below.
Wildlife
For the rescue of and advice about wildlife (except marine), contact Wildlife Rescue South Coast (WRSC):
- https://www.wildlife-rescue.org.au/
- 24/7 rescue hotline 0418 427 214
- WRSC will provide advice about what to do and if necessary, arrange a rescue. There is no cost for this service but donations to this valuable organisation are always appreciated.
Marine Wildlife
For the rescue of whales, dolphins and seals, contact Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans (ORRCA):
For the rescue of seabirds, shorebirds, sea turtles and sea snakes, contact the Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue:
Note: Only licensed wildlife rehabilitation providers or registered veterinarians can take a sick, injured or orphaned native animal into care.
Keep Yourself Safe
DO NOT approach snakes, goannas, bats, kangaroos, koalas, or large birds.
These animals require specialist handling and trained rescuers.
Keep the Animal Safe
Where you can, remove any threat to the animal's welfare including keeping people and pets away to minimise stress while waiting for a rescuer or vet transfer.
Where possible, leave native animals in the wild while you wait for further advice/animal rescuer.
Rescue and Transport
If the sick/injured animal is safe to contain (e.g. small bird) gently contain the animal and keep it in a warm, dark, quiet place and transport to the nearest vet who will accept wildlife free of charge.
Do not provide food or water to the animal unless instructed to by a Wildlife Rescue South Coast volunteer or a vet.
Wildlife during emergencies
Following the devastating 2019/20 fires, the NSW government commissioned an independent expert inquiry to understand what happened during that bushfire season and provide recommendations to improve how NSW plans, prepares for and responds to bushfires. Key recommendations that were specifically about wildlife include:
- that government should develop a plan for helping injured wildlife during emergencies,
- that firefighters be trained on handling wildlife, and
- that vets and wildlife rescue volunteers be provided bushfire awareness accreditation.
To help achieve this, the NSW Wildlife in Emergencies plan was created, which details the control and coordination arrangements for emergencies affecting wildlife in NSW. This includes the creation of new wildlife specific roles that will be enacted during an emergency to provide specialist advice and response. One significant new role is for the establishment of expert rescue teams to help affected wildlife on the ground. For a summary of this new plan and how it might be enacted locally, see the summary document in the Resources tab.
Pets and Livestock
- For advice about non-native animals such as domestic pets and livestock, see further advice on the Council Pets and Animals page.
- To make a report about a domestic animal in distress, such as a lost dog or escaped livestock, contact Councils rangers on 1300 293 111 or see further advice on the Council Complaints About Animals page.
- The NSW SES has some useful information about managing your animals during emergencies on their Get Ready Animals page.