Media Release - 17.4.26

Wildlife road alert for motorists as WIRES records 200% increase in native animal car strikes.

WIRES’ 24/7 Rescue Office has recorded a 200% increase in calls from the public reporting native animals struck by vehicles in the first week following the end of daylight saving on Sunday 5 April.

WIRES spokesperson John Grant said the spike is driven by peak-hour traffic occurring an hour earlier, now coinciding with the time nocturnal wildlife emerge to feed at dusk and return at dawn.

“With school holiday makers returning home this weekend, we are urging motorists to take extra care in known wildlife areas, particularly at dusk and dawn when animals are most active and likely to be crossing roads,” said Grant.

Native animals most at risk of vehicle strike include kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, koalas, possums and echidnas. Secondary animals such as raptors, goannas and dingoes are also at risk when feeding on roadside carcasses.

“The weeks following the end of daylight saving are also an especially demanding time for wildlife volunteers across all rescue groups, who respond to these incidents in the hope of saving injured animals.”

WIRES believes this increase represents only a fraction of the animals actually being hit as many go unreported. Just like domestic pets, our native animals have no road awareness and can emerge suddenly from roadside bushland with little warning. There are, however, ways the public can help if they hit or encounter an animal following a car strike.

WIRES advises the following actions in the event of a car strike:

• If you accidentally hit an animal only stop if it is safe to do so and for guidance call WIRES 24/7 Rescue office on 1300 094 737 or to report fill in a Report a Rescue Form or contact the nearest wildlife rescue group or a nearby vet for advice and assistance. Please make a note of the exact location with coordinates where possible so volunteers can locate the animal as quickly as possible.
• Always approach an injured adult animal with caution as if not deceased it will be in pain and in shock. It will see you as a predator not a rescuer and may lash out to defend itself.
• Females may have a pouch or ‘at foot’ joey so you may be asked to do a ‘pouch-check’ and also check the surrounding area in the event a joey or ‘back-rider’ (koala and possum joey) has been ejected on impact.
• If you do find a joey in a pouch it will need to be kept warm and quiet so gently wrap in blanket or spare clothing, handle as little as possible until you are advised to take to a vet or it is collected by a volunteer.
• Please note very young pouch joeys known as ‘pinkies’ and still on the teat should not be removed without expert guidance so please call WIRES 1300 094 737 for advice.
• Deceased wildlife on roads animals can attract other animals so if/when it is safe to do so, please move the body well off the road

If you see an animal on the side of the road with an ‘X’ spray painted on the body, it has already been checked and assessed by a wildlife volunteer.