WILDLIFE rescue and care group FAWNA is encouraging people who have thought of becoming wildlife volunteers to join them and come along to an induction training course next month.
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President Meredith Ryan says it is the perfect time to join FAWNA.
“We have three courses available between now and Christmas,” she said.
“These include, Rescue and Immediate Care training on Saturday, October 15 in Taree; Macropods [kangaroos and wallabies] in Port Macquarie on November 5, and Possums and Gliders in Coopernook on November 12."
Over its range covering Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings and MidCoast local government areas last year, the group dealt with 3403 animals, birds and reptiles, 612 being macropods and 297 possums and gliders.
“FAWNA needs more trained volunteers to help cope with the load of injured, orphaned and disadvantaged fauna - averaging 65 per week, every week, over the past 12 months,” said the FAWNA president.
Membership and training course details and bookings are available via www.fawna.org.au and bookings are essential.
Mrs Ryan reminds the community that to rehabilitate wildlife it is the law that a person is trained and authorised by a National Parks and Wildlife Service licensed group.
"Sadly our group sees some poor outcomes for wildlife when well-intentioned members of the public don't know the specialised foods and caring protocols needed and so important for these wildlife orphans - much different from domestic pets and farm animals.
“It can be very distressing for wildlife carers to have badly-nourished and stressed animals surrendered, sometimes too late to save,” Mrs Ryan said.
FAWNA is the only all-species group licensed from Bulahdelah to the top of the Kempsey Shire and FAWNA's 24 hour wildlife rescue hotline is 6581-4141.
FAWNA looks forward to new recruits joining to help over the busy spring and summer period.
