Rescue remedy?

The release of the draft Wildlife Management Plan last month has sparked renewed calls for better wildlife rescue services on Phillip Island.

The Plan does not include a rescue service, but many island residents say it is desperately needed.

At present, Phillip Island Nature Parks offers a service between 7.30am and 4pm, with the remaining hours covered by volunteers.

Colleen Gilbee, who runs the Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Shelter Bass Coast said additional resources are desperately needed.

As well as working full time, Colleen runs the wildlife shelter and rescue service and offers a call-out service after 4pm, but said she is stretched to her limit.

“I am really struggling with the volume of calls,” she admitted.

“I cannot do up to 10 calls a night and work full time. Something is going to give.”

She said local vets are very supportive and caring of wildlife – “I’d be lost without them” – as are the police if they’re not dealing with a human emergency.

But she didn’t mince words in her call for the Nature Parks to do more after 4pm and quickly.

“I’m desperate. Years ago there was a volunteer system within the PINP and it worked really well. We all shared the load of all the calls.”

The only active wildlife rescuer on Phillip Island, Colleen believes many people overestimate the number of wildlife rescuers in the area.

“I’m still the only person doing after-hours rescues,” she said, explaining other carers will take in sick animals but do not respond to call-outs for a number of reasons.

Colleen said there are a few “lovely ladies” who help her when they can, but she’s hoping more local residents will get involved, to help deal with the issue.

“Everyone says they want to help, but not many actually do. If people really want to help and make a difference, please join Wildlife Victoria and do the training.”

Call-outs

While Colleen does get calls about injured Cape Barren Geese, wallabies and brushtail possums, she said it’s not just the animal populations identified in the Wildlife Management Plan that need rescuing.

The calls range from cat and dog attacks on native animals, through to poisoning, car strikes and orphaned animals.

She’s also helped extricate animals from “interesting places”, explaining it’s usually because “their homes and food sources are being taken over or removed by humans”.

While roadkill might attract the lion’s share of public attention and be the most visible of the wildlife rescue categories, it’s not the biggest.

And the toll on our wildlife can’t just be blamed on tourists.

“When Covid hit and we were in lockdown, I had just as many calls. Although the number of animals hit by cars did reduce a little, it did still happen due to too high road speed limits in parts of the island,” she said.

Keeping cats and dogs locked up from dusk to dawn does help reduce the attacks on wildlife.

“If you don’t have good control of your dog, then it should be on a lead at all times outside of your property. I love cats and dogs – I’ve got them myself, but I keep my cat inside at night.

“I get so many calls for cat and dog attacks on native birds, on ringtail and brushtail possums and lizards.

“I also get calls for birds that get sick, after eating a mouse or rat that’s been poisoned by a bait, lizards that have eaten snail bait or a possum that’s eaten rat or rabbit bait.”

By far the largest number of calls is for orphaned animals, found by “lovely members of the public”.

“I’ve collected ducklings, baby native birds, baby possums, wallaby joeys, Echidna puggles … we don’t always know what happened to their parents.”

With Phillip Island expecting peak visitor numbers this summer, Colleen is apprehensive about how to handle an increase in calls.

“I can’t leave the animals with nobody to care for them or help stop their suffering, but I desperately need help.”

You can contact Colleen anytime on 0409 428 162.

She will attend if possible or provide advice on what to do. Injured animals can be cared for at her shelter and Colleen is also a qualified snake catcher.

Nature Parks proposal

A proposal by the Nature Parks to recruit volunteers to help deliver a 24/7 wildlife rescue service was put on hold due to the pandemic.

In March this year, PINP announced sixteen volunteers were being trained to help respond to after-hours wildlife incidents.

The volunteers would provide an after-hour incident response for reports of sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife from the public.

They would then co-ordinate with the Wildlife Rescue and Transportation volunteers who will undertake the rescue with another volunteer or a Nature Parks ranger.

Last month, Nature Parks CEO Catherine Basterfield told the Advertiser volunteers would be slowly brought back as Covid restrictions eased and hopefully the plan would be reinstated.

Injured wildlife? What to do

Some tips from wildlife carer Colleen Gilbee on what to do if you discover injured wildlife.

“You can be a great help to wildlife by stopping and checking animals that have been hit by cars,” Colleen said.

“Check that you’re safe first, check if the mother is dead and then check the pouch for a baby.” Wildlife Victoria has fact sheets on how to check a pouch correctly, how to remove the baby safely and how to keep the baby warm, to get it to a carer or a vet.

“All wildlife found sick, injured or orphaned must be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If they’re ok, then they will be handed to the local shelter or Phillip Island Nature Parks.”

Her phone is always with her and Colleen said she can be contacted anytime.

“If I don’t answer, please call the police for wallabies or kangaroos that need to be euthanised,” she said.

“You can try after-hours vets, or you can keep the animals until 7.30am and call the Nature Parks Wildlife Rescue number. Keep mammals warm overnight. All other animals just put them in a towel in a carrier or box. Please do not feed or force water on them, unless you have been advised by a trained carer.”

Wildlife Rescue contacts:
Phillip Island Nature Parks (between 7.30am – 4pm): 5951 2800, selection Option2.
Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Shelter Bass Coast – Colleen Gilbee: 0409 428 162.
Wildlife Victoria (4pm – 7.30am): 8400 7300. Cases can also be logged at: wildlifevictoria.org.au.