SPRING is just around the corner and across our region, it isn’t just people who are looking forward to the warmer weather.
Birds are nesting, fledglings will begin taking flight, reptiles are emerging from their winter rest, and wildlife is becoming increasingly active around roads, gardens and waterways.
But as we encounter more of our native neighbours, knowing when to help, and when to simply give them space, can make all the difference.
John Grant is a spokesperson for the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service.
He said spring brought with it a range of situations where people could encounter wildlife in need, and one of the most common points of contact is on the road.
“Just like our domestic pets, wildlife has no road awareness and will often freeze in fear in the headlights of vehicles,” Mr Grant said.
He urged motorists to slow down in known wildlife areas, particularly around dawn and dusk when nocturnal animals are returning from, or heading out to, forage.
For anyone who does collide with a kangaroo, wombat or koala, there is another important step that could save a life.
“If you have a collision with a kangaroo, wombat or koala and it’s safe to pull over, you can check for a pouch if the adult animal is already deceased, as joeys can survive in a pouch for up to three days,” Mr Grant said.
A joey may also have been thrown from the pouch during the collision, making it important to check the surrounding area.
If one is found, people should gently contain it and wrap it in a towel or blanket to keep it warm before contacting WIRES or taking it directly to the nearest vet for assessment.
However, Mr Grant stressed that there are some animals that members of the public should never attempt to handle, including bats, birds of prey, snakes and injured adult kangaroos, wombats and koalas.
“Distressed native animals see us as a predator, not a rescuer and they will try to defend themselves,” he said.
Spring also brings one of the most common wildlife misconceptions, the assumption that a young animal found alone has been abandoned.
Fledglings, in particular, can spend time on the ground while learning to fly.
“Observe the situation from a distance, as often the parent birds are actually nearby keeping a watchful eye,” Mr Grant said.
The best outcome for a fledgling is generally to reunite it with its parents rather than automatically taking it away.
That may involve returning it to its nest where possible or simply keeping pets and people away while the parents continue caring for it.
Ducklings can create a similar dilemma.
Mr Grant said ducklings commonly became separated from their parents while making the journey from tree hollows to nearby waterways.
“In most cases the parents will join them if everyone keeps their distance,” he said.
And if a duckling genuinely does need rescuing, there is one thing people should not do: put it in water.
Ducklings need to be kept warm and are difficult to raise without specialist care, so WIRES should be contacted for advice.
As temperatures rise, reptiles are also beginning to stir.
Mr Grant said snakes were emerging from their winter brumation, a period of reduced metabolic activity similar to hibernation, while turtles could also be seen crossing roads after spending the colder months in muddy creek and riverbeds.
His advice when it comes to snakes is to treat every snake as potentially venomous and don’t attempt to catch, kill, or move it.
“Most snake bites occur when someone attempts to contain, kill or move a snake,” he said.
While snakes can understandably cause alarm, they play an important role in maintaining healthy biodiversity.
They are also generally more frightened of humans than we are of them.
“If you find a snake in your house, always call for advice,” Mr Grant said.
There are also plenty of long-held beliefs about our native animals that aren’t quite what they seem.
One common misconception is that possums chew electrical wiring. According to Mr Grant, that isn’t the case.
Possums may move into roofs when there aren’t enough suitable tree hollows nearby, but it is rats that are responsible for chewing electrical wiring.
And while a possum in the roof may be inconvenient, understanding why it is there can help people find a more appropriate solution than simply treating the animal as a pest.
Spring wouldn’t be spring without the familiar sound of magpies, and, for some residents, the equally familiar experience of being swooped.
Magpies and plovers may become protective of their young during nesting season, seeing people who approach as a threat.
The good news is that the behaviour is generally short-lived, often lasting only three or four weeks.
Mr Grant recommends staying calm, leaving the nesting area and walking swiftly rather than running.
A hat or umbrella can provide some protection, while cyclists are advised to dismount and walk through known nesting areas to avoid losing their balance during a swoop. And don’t retaliate.
“Don’t wave sticks, throw objects or try to scare the bird,” Mr Grant said. “Behaving aggressively will only increase the perception that you are a threat.”
Where possible, avoiding the area altogether is the simplest option, with swooping generally stopping once the chicks leave the nest.
It may be tempting to think of spring wildlife as something we need to manage around us, but there is another way to look at it.
For a few weeks, our roads, gardens, waterways and paddocks become nurseries for a new generation of native wildlife.
“WIRES and all the wildlife rescue groups are very grateful to the public for their love and concern for our native wildlife, ” Mr Grant said.
“We could not achieve the volunteer rescue and rehabilitation work without local communities alerting us to animals in need.”
