wildlife first aid Flashcards
wildlife is a
community responsibility
habitat destructing has compounding effects:
- approach urbanized areas; increasing likelihood of car accidents, predation by pets, poisoning, etc
- compete w each other for decreasing resources
- crowd into smaller areas; prone to disease
- come into contact w people; increasing “rescues” that do more harm than good
you’ve found injured or unwell wildlife; whats next
- check you aren’t in danger
- prevent more stress/ injury
- make notes of location
- does it need rescuing
is it illegal to keep or care for wildlife without a license
yes
what animals should you NOT handle if they are bright and moving
- adult mammals
- large or predatory birds
- large reptiles
- venemous snakes
- bats
what to watch out for with birds
- bails
- beak
- long necks
- talons
- legs
precocial chicks
- born covered in down, eyes open, able to walk
- can self feed but may still need occasional help from parents
- parents may leave them for short period of time
if found; do not feed, place under nearby shrub for protection and wait for parents to return
altricial chicks
- born w eyes closed and little or no feathers
- require parental care until old enough to leave nest
- quickly succumb to hypothermia
if found
- return to nest and watch to ensure parents return
- if parents do not return within the hour provide gentle heat, immediately transport to vet, do not feed
fledgling altricial chicks
- have most of feathers
- have or about to leave nest, learning to be self sufficient
- parental care still occurs
if found
- place on branch or in nest or nearby bush
- watch for parents return but may take a few hours
- do not feed
with chicks when should you intervene
- chick has little to no feathers and cannot be returned to nest
- cold or lethargic
- nest felled and parents gone
- parents deceased
- attempt to reunite w parents has been made
- injured
- been in mouth of dog or cat
- extreme weather event
found wildlife, who u gonna call
- wildcare aus inc hotline
- QLD wildlife rehabilitation council
- RSPCA
in event of trauma and animal is still alive
- minimize stress and handling; have everything ready
- approach from behind
- place blanket over head
- stunned animal may quickly brighten and bite
- quickly place in secure box
in event of trauma and animal is deceased
- look for young (nearby, pouch, nipple)
- move animal off road
triage principles
airway, breathing, cardiovascular, disability
triage options
- immediate euth
- immediate vet intervention
- stabilization and vet attention asap
- hospitalization
- wildlife carer
