Drought knocks wildlife

By Elizabeth Lillis
NATIVE wildlife are doing it tough in the drought.
Maryknoll Wildlife Shelter has had a busy start to the New Year with many of the animals coming into their care suffering from heat exhaustion as a result of not being able to find enough water.
Birds and possums have been most affected by the heat.
Shelter operator Jenny Mattingley said residents could help wildlife by leaving water containers in safe area in their yards if they saw possums and wild birds nearby.
“This is just a small thing people can do that can help,” she said.
The shelter has recently assisted butcherbirds, ringtailed possums, magpies and tawny frogmouths affected by the heat and lack of water.
Mrs Mattingley said a recent fire in Bunyip State Park was fortunately not too close to the site where the shelter recently released some swamp wallabies and wombats back into the wild.
Mrs Mattlingley said echidnas being found in backyards at this time of year were not a major concern.
“People are best to leave them alone and they will move on in their own time.
“People just need to make sure dogs and cats are kept away and they will move on,” she said.
Mrs Mattlingley said it was only necessary to call for help if the echidna was in extreme danger.
The shelter was recently called to rescue an echidna that was attempting to cross the Princes Highway at Nar Nar Goon.
The shelter’s first new patient in 2007 was a baby wombat, now named Tinks, whose mother was hit by a car on New Year’s Eve.
The Maryknoll Wildlife shelter is in its 20th year of operation.
Anyone finding injured wildlife can contact Help for Wildlife on 0417 380 687 or Wildlife Victoria ‘s Wildline on 0500 540 000 for advice or assistance. RACV roadside assistance can also refer drivers to these services.