Kay, the Snake Calmer

Kay Mallitt is our branch reptile coordinator. She first joined WIRES about 11 years ago after years of reporting injured animals to WIRES. She had been on-site manager, with her husband Bruce, of caravan parks at Murramurang and then South Durras.

The summer months can see Kay caring for injured turtles, skinks and the occasional lace monitor. Birds are a year round commitment. However, it’s rescuing and relocating snakes that keeps her and the other snake handlers busy over the warmer months.

Kay says that caring for reptiles fits in with her busy work and family responsibilities. “They are easy to care for as they don’t take up much space and time."

When Kay first joined WIRES she did all the courses, including a pelican rescue course. However she finds most satisfaction rescuing reptiles. Kay has learned much about turtles from the “fantastic" local vets, such as how to tube feed them and the best methods of repairing their shells. The branch has had great success in hatching turtle eggs. The tiny hatchlings are independent from birth.

Kay doesn’t like to see snakes being killed just because people do not understand them or are afraid of them. She points out that “snakes don’t eat people and don’t want to waste venom on them. Leave them alone and they won’t bother you! People and pets are only bitten when the snake is threatened". Thankfully Kay has never been bitten. She says being aware of your surroundings and staying focused, as well as the excellent WIRES training, has given her the confidence to handle snakes safely, and yes, she can handle sea snakes - which require a very different approach.

Kay encourages everyone to do the snake course, even if they are not sure they want to rescue snakes. It is the only course that involves live animals and she believes that even those who are scared of snakes can learn to handle them comfortably during the course.

Penguin Breeding Boom

Little penguin chicks on Philip Island in Victoria were still hatching in autumn when the chicks would normally be grown.

The East Australian Current is getting warmer because of global warming. "Although it doesn’t enter the shallow Bass Strait, it still has a heating effect and the water temperatures in the strait are increasing.”

As a result about 24,000 chicks have hatched on Phillip Island, making it the largest colony of little penguins in the world. For now this is good news but further warming could cause the fish they rely on for food to move to cooler water so the penguins will have further to travel to find food.

Hotter summers are also bad for the penguins. In 2019 a heat wave killed hundreds of penguins that were moulting in burrows.

Ref: Miki Perkins, Warming sparks penguin breeding boom but experts sound note of caution, Sydney Morning Herald, 2 April 2021.

Bacteria Killing Lorikeets

There has been a large number of rainbow lorikeet deaths in recent months in the Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven regions. To find out what might be causing their demise, WIRES sent some dead lorikeets to a research team at Sydney University.

At this stage the culprit looks to be a bacteria in their gut, but its source is unknown. "We're not sure yet whether the bacteria is in something the birds are eating or drinking, but the saddest part is, because rainbow lorikeets are such social birds, they're passing it on to each other very quickly,” Janelle Rénes, our branch joint bird coordinator, said.

Janelle has asked the public not to feed birds to prevent the disease spreading, and to clean bird baths daily with bleach and a good scrub. Further investigations are being carried out by the researchers.

Ref: Maeve Bannister, South coast lorikeets dead due to bacteria, Bega District News, 15 April 2021.

Cooma Prisoners Help Wombats

Inmates at Cooma Correctional Centre are helping save wombats by making special wombat burrow flaps that deliver mange treatment.

Snowy Mountain wildlife carers have partnered with the jail to make these flaps. They are made from old election signs (made from corflute) and recycled cans donated by the community. As the wombat goes into its burrow the moxidectin is tipped from the cans onto the wombat’s back. This will treat mange, a skin disease wombats are prone to, that can be life threatening.

The prisoners have made 1000 flaps and are working on 1000 more. They will be distributed throughout NSW.

Ref: Keira Proust, Inmates inside Cooma’s Correctional Centre work with wildlife carers to save wombats from deadly disease, ABC News, 2 May 2021.

Water Sprinklers for Flying Foxes

The NSW government is funding research aimed at finding out whether water sprinklers are effective at reducing heat-stress in flying fox camps. During the 2019/20 summer it is estimated that over 72,000 grey-headed flying foxes died of heat.

Ref: Flying-fox heat stress targeted in world first, NSW Dept. of Planning, Industry and Environment, 16 April 2021.

Sad Saga of the Seagull

by Kay Mallitt

At the end of March a member of the public contacted WIRES to report a seagull that had a large hook through its foot and legs entangled in fishing line. It was still able to fly so I knew it would be a very difficult rescue. Caz Roberts and I walked the Batemans Bay waterfront but there was no sign of the bird. I tried again the next day without luck.

Then the following day a report was made to WIRES for the same bird. This time the caller was able to tell me exactly where the seagull was ( so important!!). My call for help was answered by Liz Spiller, who arrived with net in hand. I also had a very large net. Again we walked the waterfront.

As luck would have it, the Merinda Cruise was docked nearby. I couldn’t believe our luck when the chap carrying the lunches to the boat tripped and dropped quite a few chips. “Can I have those please?”, I asked. Seeing our nets and WIRES vests he was more than happy for me to collect the spilled chips.

We wandered along the grassed area tossing out chips and there it was, this poor seagull with a large lure attached to its leg and hooks through its knee and foot. The bird couldn’t walk but flew to us for a chip. The large net did the trick and the bird, no doubt slower than normal, was caught.

Liz and I cut the hooks so they could be removed, some having to be pushed through the birds foot. The fishing line was no longer attached by this time, but the damage was done and it was severe. We noticed infection around the knee so took the bird to a vet for assessment.

The vet advised that, apart from the infection, the seagull's leg was badly broken. The bird had to be euthanised. Yes, I know - heaps of seagulls do just fine with only one leg - but this little guy's body was wracked with pain and infection. It was too late to save him.

The lure that this little juvenile seagull thought was an appetising fish was instead its death sentence. We understand that most fishers are very responsible and never leave old line or hooks and lures around but it only takes one. Please always dispose of fishing gear responsibly.

Stress Dermatitis in Possums

Stress dematitis is a term used by vets and wildlife carers for skin problems and infections in brushtail possums. It is triggered by an infected wound or scratch or rash and exacerbated by stress. That stress might include being orphaned as joeys, shortage of food, inadequate accommodation due to overcrowding, or loss of territory.

It starts with small red spots or blisters, which then scab over with loss of fur, then as scabs and skin comes off raw flesh is exposed making it look like burns.

It can be treated with antibiotics but the longer it is left untreated, the lower the recovery rate.

Ref: Lynnette Millet, Stress Dermatitis in Brushtail Possums, Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference, June 2004.

Pouch Checking Guide

This guide, put together by Wildlife Victoria, is designed to advise people on how to check the pouch of a dead marsupial for joeys.

It provides tips on safety, equipment, and how to find and extract the joey and what to do with it once has been removed. Also it explains how to tell if the animal has recently had a joey in the pouch so that you know to look for it nearby.

There is also a video:

Ref: Pouch Checking Guide: How you can help orphaned Australian wildlife, Wildlife Victoria, 2019.

Wildlife Bottle and Teat Supplies

Burston Blue

• Silicone teats in a range of sizes, with or without flanges, no pre-made holes.
• Glass bottles in a range of sizes.
  

Wildlife Teats

• Silicone and latex teats in a range of sizes, with or without pre-made holes, with or without flanges.

Anne-Marie’s Wildlife Supplies

• Silicone and latex teats in a range of sizes, no pre-made holes or flanges
• Glass bottles in a range of sizes
• Glass syringes in a range of sizes
• Bottle brushes in a range of sizes

Zora Brown, one of our super carers, recommends Wildlife Teats as the pre-made holes are just the right size and it is tricky making your own holes. They are as long lasting as the Burston Blue, but softer and easier for animals to get used to. They also suit bottles with different neck (top of bottle) sizes. She prefers paying a bit more for teats with flanges as they are so much easier to get onto the bottles.

Chance to win and have your say

What do you know about wildlife in your local area? Share your sightings and knowledge to help scientists understand more about wildlife in New South Wales.

By taking part you could win 1 of 10 NSW National Parks and Wildlife annual Multi-Parks Passes. Please make sure you answer all questions in the survey, enter your contact details and review the terms and conditions.

To enter, complete the survey and make sure you include your contact details at the end of the survey for your chance to win.

START THE SURVEY

• You can only complete the Community Wildlife Survey and enter once.
• This competition is not open to those who have already completed the Community Wildlife Survey in 2019.
• Competion closes 5pm, 28 May 2021.
• You must be an Australian resident and 18 years or older to enter."

Ref: Community Wildlife Survey, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 25 January 2021.