HomeCommunityBusy year for Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc

Busy year for Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc

Bundy Wildlife Rescue
Bundy Wildlife Rescue volunteers were kept on their toes with more than 1000 phone calls for help during 2022. Photo: Swamp wallaby Zoltan currently being cared for by Bundy Wildlife Rescue vice president Amy.

Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc. had a busy year in 2022 with more than 1000 calls for help and information about native animals.

President Linda Karlsen said volunteers were kept on their toes responding to call outs to provide help to animals great and small, from frogs through to large kangaroos.

The group of dedicated locals cover the Bundaberg Region but are also willing to travel to injured wildlife.

“We are in a constant state of readiness as we work pretty much like any emergency organisation – as we don’t know what species we may be dealing with or where the rescue situation may be,” Linda said.

“Our rescuers have to be ready to deal with anything from a kangaroo hit by a car to a swallow falling out of a nest.

“We cover a large area that extends from north of Rosedale to south of South Bingera and from out west past Gin Gin to the east from Burnett Heads to south of Elliott Heads on the coast.

“I will add that we have travelled further and had animals come in from Monto and Biggenden and other areas out west, where there may be no rescuers or species that the local rescuers were not set up to handle.”

Bundy Wildlife Rescue continues to grow

Throughout 2022 Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc. records showed the team assisted community members with 1190 enquiries.

Included in these numbers were 100 calls for macropods (kangaroos, wallabies and related), 587 calls for assistance with birds, 90 calls about possums and gliders, eight for bandicoots and 39 calls for information about bats.

Linda said the group formed in April 2020 and continued to grow to about 60 members, although not all were active rescuers.

“We have a core group of around 30 or so people who are very active as rescuers and carers,” she said.

“I am personally not surprised at the number of calls we have received this year.”

Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc
Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc President Linda Karlsen with an orphaned possum in 2021. Photo: File

Linda said calls were highly seasonal with the majority of them coming in between September and March due to bird breeding season.

“As you can see, birds make up the majority of our calls and our rescues,” she said.

“Some days we may get 10 calls and others only one.

“We do deal with all native species and that is well represented by the statistics.”

Wildlife advice for locals

The rescue organisation also offers advise to locals who have concerns about native animals.

“We not only rescue but we also offer advice, and we are happy for people to call in with any issue that they might be having with native creatures, whether that be a snake in the shed or a possum in the garden,” Linda said.

“We can offer advice about all sorts of situations. If we cannot handle a situation, we can often refer you to someone who can.

“As the busy bird season winds down, we start to look at taking on new members and offering training. We will most likely start looking at running courses around May.”

Linda said the organisation also offered general training courses that included safety at rescues, how to catch various species of birds and how to transport, feed and house animals.

“The Bundaberg community has been fantastic about supporting us in what we do, and as for caring about the wildlife of the region, well if the number of calls coming in is any indication – the local community cares a great deal about their local wildlife,” she said.

“They put their trust in us with each call they make when an animal needs help.

“We hope to continue doing what we do. We are available 24/7 on 3924 6566.

“The phone is manned by local rescuers and carers.”

You can find out more about Bundy Wildlife Rescue Inc. on Facebook.

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