Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers

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Yes, all Australian Flying-foxes and their smaller cousins, the insect eating Microbats, do have the potential to carry both Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) and the less-publicised Hendra virus. Here are a few facts about ABL, the disease that concerns most people:

• One (possibly 2) people are known to have contracted this disease from Flying-foxes and died.
• Little is still known about this disease, but it is very rare.
• We advise that nobody, unless vaccinated, handles or touches Flying-foxes, or Microbats.
• You can only catch this disease from a direct bite or scratch.
• You cannot catch this disease by living near a bat colony, having bats visit your garden at night, or from touching fences or trees that bats have landed on.
• The only way to tell if a bat has ABL is to euthanase the animal, and perform a brain autopsy.

To sum up: we advise caution, but not alarm. You are perfectly safe if you do not make direct contact with these intelligent little night creatures... And by the way, no... bats do not get entangled in people's hair.

Do not panic! First, thoroughly wash the wound with warm soapy water for 5 minutes. This is the single most effective thing you can do immediately. Secondly, contact your Doctor straight away. If you were to be diagnosed as to having contracted or likely to be at risk from ABL, you would simply be put on a course of post-exposure injections.

We strongly urge you not to consider doing this. Firstly, it is not legal to take an Australian native animal from the wild, and this carries hefty fines.

Yes, many of our native animals are cute, helpless, or 'different', but in general, due to strange territorial behaviour, specialised diet, housing, social interaction, and often very unsocial hours, they are not a good pet option.

Some native animals that have been bred in captivity may be kept as pets, but we urge people to consider their welfare, ensure that they have optimal conditions that are suitable for their species, behaviour, etc. You should also find out from your local National Parks and Wildlife Service about licences you require, etc.

Some quarters are advocating the proposed keeping of animals such as Quolls as pets. Dogs and cats have been bred in captivity for thousands of years. Quolls haven't. How would you feel if instead of being free and active in our forests at night, you were locked up in a small cage. Up all night, while your owners are asleep?

So let's keep our wildlife where it belongs ... free!

Every state in Australia has different laws, but in most cases only licensed and trained wildlife carers are allowed to rehabilitate native wildlife. In NSW, every area has its own wildlife rehabilitation group, such as Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers in the north of NSW. These groups are licensed by National Parks, ensuring that the members are appropriately trained.

Members will not only undertake training in the species for which they care, they will provide appropriate equipment and housing for the species and its stage of development. They will make sure that the animal is not compromised, and is able to be returned to the wild, not only physically fit but also socially and pyschologically. Wild animals need to know their species, their natural foods and environments. Licensed carers will make sure that this happens. Otherwise, the chance of survival of the rehabilitated animals is jeopardised.

Wildlife carers do not want to keep animals for their own personal sakes, but for the animals'. Releasing a fully-fit rehabilitated animal back into the wild is their greatest pleasure.

If you think you could take part in this worth-while endeavour, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation group, or click here to contact us.

Throughout Australia there are scores of wildlife rehabilitators and there is bound to be one in your region. If you live in NSW, you will be required to become a member of a licensed wildlife organisation in your region, such as Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers. In other states, the legislation varies and you would need to contact the local office of your National Parks and Wildlife Service, or equivalent organisation.

If you live in the Tweed Shire of NSW, contact TVWC to find out more. You may also go to our Membership page to download a membership application form.

A baby Black flying-fox in care with a vaccinated TVWC member

TVWC looks after all wildlife, including snakes which are protected, like all wildlife