Wildlife First Aid Flashcards
Common cases for wildlife first aid:
- Habitat destruction
- Motor vehicle accidents ‘
- Natural disasters
- Predation
- Poisoning
- Electrocution
- Window strikes – birds
- Being outcompeted by feral
animals - Hunting/shooting
- Human interference “rescues”
- Malicious intent
- Anything that can harm
companion mammals has the
potential to harm wildlife (e.g. tick
paralysis, snake bites, rat bait)
Effect of habitat destruction on wildlife:
- Approach urbanised areas, increasing the likelihood of motor vehicle attacks, predation by pets, poisoning etc.
- Compete amongst each other for decreasing resources
- Crowd into smaller geographical ranges, making them prone to disease and further decreasing available resources
- Come into contact with people, increasing the likelihood well
- intended “rescues”
Steps after finding injured wildlife: (4)
- Check for danger
- Prevent more stress/injury
- Make note of location
- Does it need rescue?
If the following are alert and responsive, do NOT handle them
- Adult mammals
- Large/predatory birds
- Large reptiles
- Venemous snakes
- Bats
- Anything you are hesitant to handle
Capture and restraint of birds:
Watch out for…
Capture with…
Transport in….
- nails, beak, long neck, talons, legs
- small towel, bare hands, net
- small cardboard box, carry cage
Capture and restraint of mammals:
Watch out for…
Capture with…
Transport in….
- teeth, nails, legs, spines
- pillow case, towel, blanket, box
- secure ^
Capture and restraint of reptiles:
Watch out for…
- teeth, nails, venom, constriction, bite force, toxic secretions, mouth bacteria
- Handle frogs with damp gloves
- Don’t handle tail
When is immediate euthanasia administered?
- If too far gone to bring to hospital
- If not able to be successfully released
How to administer immediate euthanasia (2)
Small animals - cervical dislocation (neck)
Large animals - blunt force
When to intervene with baby birds:
IF:
- little to no feathers and cannot be returned to its nest
- Cold or lethargic *
- Nest has been felled and parents have gone
- Parents are deceased nearby
- Attempt to reunite with parents has been made and parents have not
returned
- Injured
- Been in the mouth of a dog or a cat
- Extreme weather event is preventing you from returning it to its
nest (e.g. floods, bushfires, hail etc.)
Capture myopathy
- A serious muscle disease that affects wild animals
- Characterised by muscle damage, weakness, and hyperthermia
