A Few Useful Tips:

• Prioritise your own safety. Wildlife may see humans as predators. Claws and teeth can cause injury, and a still animal is not necessarily safe to handle – always cover it before touching. Never place yourself in danger.
• Do not feed or provide water unless specifically advised to do so. Unnecessary handling can cause additional harm.
• Special handling is required for certain animals, including bats, flying-foxes, venomous reptiles, and birds of prey (raptors). These species should only be handled by trained volunteers and professionals.
• Check marsupial pouches if you find an animal killed on the road. A live joey may be inside. Do not forcefully remove a joey from the teat – collect both mother and young for later separation.
• Record the exact location of the animal if you cannot safely handle it. Use an odometer reading to a known landmark to provide accurate information to the FAWNA hotline volunteer.
• Provide location details if dropping off wildlife at a vet this ensures the animal can be returned to its home territory after rehabilitation.
• For baby birds, look for parents nearby before intervening.
• Minimise stress by placing the animal in a soft towel or blanket and gently placing it inside a ventilated cardboard box.
• Keep the animal in a warm, dark, and quiet space away from noise, pets, and human activity. Avoid unnecessary disturbance, as stress from human contact can be fatal.
• Do not attempt to handle snakes or bats. Some animals require particular handling if they need to be rescued. Bats and flying-foxes, venomous reptiles, raptors (birds of prey) have special handling requirements and should not be handled by untrained people. Keep pets and people away until a trained rescuer arrives.