Community members urged to remain alert as injured wildlife emerge from lakes firegrounds

Community members urged to remain alert as injured wildlife emerge from lakes firegrounds

The Crater Lakes fire was a scary time for wildlife in the area, with the tranquil area they call home instead filled with smoke, flames and loud noises.

As flames spread across the rim and down the sides of the Valley Lakes crater, concerns were raised about the animals housed in the wildlife park, as well as the many others that live in the adjacent scrub.

Animals can sustain various injuries from fires, some which may not be visible externally. This can include smoke inhalation, which can burn the throat and lungs and cause issues months down the track.

Animals who live in trees such as koalas can encounter broken limbs, pelvises and collarbones and those closer to the ground such as kangaroos, reptiles and small marsupials, can have burnt paws, tails or full-body burns.

Blue Lake Veterinary Clinic co-owner and manager Julie Taylor, who is a registered veterinary nurse, said all animals injured in bushfires must be taken to a vet for assessment.

“When animals are quiet and sitting calmly it often means the animal is unwell and will need to be seen as soon as possible,” Ms Taylor said.

“If members of the public do pick up wildlife, it is really important to get this animal to a vet as soon as possible.”

Mount Gambier Wildlife Carer Julia Dangerfield said if the animal could not be captured, it was important to acquire an accurate location of the animal, for example a screenshot on Google Maps, a GPS location or a photo of the area and to contact a wildlife rescuer.

Ms Dangerfield said if people encountered a smaller animal which they could contain themselves, such as a possum or lizard, they could take it straight to a veterinarian.

Ms Dangerfield said it was best to contain the animal somewhere dark and quiet, for example a shoe box or a pet carrier, avoid turning the radio on and loud voices and do not offer the animal food or water.

“The animals’ burns are not always visible, especially because the burns will be where they touch the ground,” she said.

“So even though they look fine, anything around the fireground or coming out of the fire ground really does need to be reported.”

Ms Dangerfield said it often took a couple of weeks for animals to start presenting themselves and showing symptoms.

“It’s generally not straight after the fires, normally because the animals are still really sore and laying low,” she said.

“Over the next couple of weeks they’re going to start coming down to green grass and water, which is when people are going to see them.”

Ms Dangerfield said carers had delivered flyers to surrounding houses and spoke to people at the adjacent golf course and caravan park to advise what will likely happen during coming weeks, what to look out for and when to give them a call.

All veterinary clinics offer after hours appointments and wildlife carers are available 24/7. Contact Julia Dangerfield on 0477 462 287 and Blue Lake Veterinary Clinic on 8723 9111.

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