Issue 1 Wildlife Rescue Magazine by Wildlife Rescue Magazine

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

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WIN!

Free books and products.

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FREE! Send in your story and receive a free

Wildlife Rescue Book!

Publisher’s words T

HE first issue of any magazine is exciting but for me being the proud publisher of now three different magazines over my lifetime this one feels the most fulfilling. Meet my lovely husband Stephan Devos who is my support and without him this magazine could never have been produced. Being able to produce an online magazine cuts the overheads so much that we are in a position to be able to offer a lot of free space to our dedicated wildlife carers. This space is being offered to wildlife carers and wildlife parks so they can sell products

to fund their own wildlife caring needs. We invite all wildlife carers & wildlife parks to contact us by email to discuss how we can help you. Any business who wishes to advertise in this great magazine can do so, a large portion of this advertising money will go towards buying the special milk products our wildlife carers need to look after their animals. We hope to ease the financial strain on our wildlife carers as they get no government support or backing. It is my personal endeavour to help find and purchase (if necessary) humidicribs for dedicated wildlife carers (must have 5 years or more experience as a dedicated wildlife carer) who have not been able to afford one before so it can ease their workload, as the roadkill on the roads

Andrea Devos

are increasing year by year. Please contact me if you are interested in receiving one of these humidicribs. We are increasingly in need of safe places to release animals back into the wildlife – if you have property that you know will not be used for shooting and the animals can roam freely we invite you to contact us and register your address so the information can be passed on. Can you offer a monetary support for the continued survival of our wildlife – if so please go to our website for more information – even $1 will help.

Rescued! is published in soft back format, with a collection of 42 true stories about the work of wildlife rehabilitators. Tas Wildlife Rescue magazine has 10 copies of this book for sale at a cost of $19.95, with a donation of $10 from the sale of each book going towards wildlife milk supplements/teats etc for wildlife carers. To win a free copy of this book – just email in your own wildlife rescue story complete with pictures to: tas.wildlife.rescue@gmail.com Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

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Tas Wildlife Rescue Publisher/Advertising 0413 587 613 Email info@taswildliferescue.com.au Website www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au Tas Wildlife Rescue magazine is published six times per year. Publisher Tas Wildlife Rescue Telephone: 0413 587 613 Website: www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au Editor Andrea Devos Production Artizen Image Design, Brisbane, Queensland Advertising Tas Wildlife Rescue Telephone: 0413 587 613 Website: www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au © 2011 The materials in this publication constitute Tas Wildlife Rescue copyright. Unless otherwise indicated, you MAY download the full magazine, store in cache, distribute, display, print and reproduce materials from this magazine in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice and any headers and footers that appear with the original materials) for your personal, noncommercial use or use within your organisation. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form or by any means for Commercial Use without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright Act 1968 ©Tas Wildlife Rescue 2011 If you have questions about the use of this magazine or would like to apply for permission to use articles from this magazine for commercial use, please contact: info@taswildliferescue.com.au The intellectual rights in all new material vests in the author or creator of such material. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process, or any exclusive right exercised, without the written permission of Tas Wildlife Rescue. Authors warrant that they are the owner of all intellectual property rights relating to all material supplied by them, their officers, servants and agents to Tas Wildlife Rescue. Authors hereby indemnify Tas Wildlife Rescue in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims and demands made against Tas Wildlife Rescue by any person arising from the use by Tas Wildlife Rescue of any material submitted to Tas Wildlife Rescue by the authors, their officers, servants and agents for publication in Tas Wildlife Rescue. The articles represent the view of the authors and the editorial represents the view of the editor. Other opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Editor or Tas Wildlife Rescue. Please note that the material presented in this ezine has been prepared for the general information of the reader and should not be used or relied upon for specific applications without first securing competent advice. Tas Wildlife Rescue, its members, authors, staff and consultants, do not represent or warrant its suitability for any general or specific use and assume no responsibility of any kind in connection with the information here in. WARRANTY & INDEMNITY – Authors, advertisers and/or advertising agencies upon and by lodging material with the Publisher for publication or authorising or approving of the publication of any material INDEMNIFY the Publisher, its servants and agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication and without limiting the generality of the foregoing to indemnify each of them in relation to defamation, slander of title, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks or names of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of right to privacy AND WARRANTY that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the Publisher, its servants or agents and in particular that nothing therein is capable of being misleading or deceptive or otherwise in breach of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974. ADVERTISING CONDITIONS - See advertising rates available at www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au

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Why do we care? W

HEN you tell people that you are a wildlife carer the vast majority of them will say – WOW I have always wanted to do that... So much joy is achieved in bringing up a tiny little creature who is solely dependent on you waking up through the night sometimes on an hourly basis to give it it’s precious few drops of milk, to help it move it’s bowel and to provide the correct amount of warmth it so rightly needs. Naming your lovely little animal is also a joy as you would with a newborn baby. But not always things go right and I think I have shed so many tears than any of the years past – because this was the year I moved to Tasmania and saw the amount of beautiful roadkill on the Tasmanian roads. So shocked was I, that nearly every night I would grab my enthusiastic daughter and go out after 9.30pm and remove the road kill off the roads to try to protect the quolls, tassie devils, owls and beautiful

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

wedgetail eagles who feasted on the road kill. Many times we found babies in the pouch, or beside the pouch would be sitting a scared little baby and many times we would be too late for them. So became the idea of bringing out a wildlife magazine – totally free to the public to download and be supportive to many organisations who are also trying to get the word out to the public. We aim on having a positive magazine with stories of wildlife and how to care for our wildlife – the money raised will go towards buying products for our hard working wildlife carers who are so dedicated and spend their lifetime looking after these beautiful babies. Products such as Wombaroo’s IMPACT and Di-Vetelact and many other needed items will be bought and distributed to our wildlife carers. Please email me if you would like to go on the list to receive aid for your wildlife animals. Are you able to make much needed pouches for our wildlife carers? If so please email us and we

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Tasmania Zoo Keeper For A Day

Andrea Devos

can give you instructions on designs (they are very simple and most times just means getting some cotton fabric and sewing up three sides.) Do you have any material laying around that could aid in making enclosures or avairies that you can donate for our wildlife carers – regardless of what state you are in throughout Australia – we can always find needy wildlife carers who would be very appreciative to receive this type of help. Are you able to help in a monetary way – please contact us and we will direct your funds to organisations or wildlife carers who are most in need. We offer free advertising to all wildlife carers who would like to sell items to raise money for their wildlife caring – please contact us for more information. Are you a photographer who could offer a framed print or do you have a product you could donate for prizes for our lovely readers – please contact us. Email us direct at andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

Are you 17 years of age and over? Are you passionate about animals? Then don't miss out on this great experience and become a Keeper for a Day at Tasmania Zoo. As a Keeper For A Day you will have the fantastic opportunity to spend a day behind the scenes of Tasmania Zoo. A Tasmania Zoo Keeper will observe with you our animals’ behaviours, prepare the food according to the daily dietary requirements, feed the animals, groom and look after their natural habitat. Our Keepers have a huge treasure of knowledge about all our animals and we are happy to share them with you on the day. Without any doubt you can look forward to a remarkable experience and a memory for a lifetime. Be a Keeper For A Day today and have a Devil Of A Time at Tasmania Zoo! As a Keeper For A Day you will receive a great package which includes a high quality embroidered “Keeper For A Day” cap, a “Keeper For A Day” T-shirt, complimentary morning tea and a personalised “Keeper For A Day” certificate. Before making your booking, please ensure you have read, understand and can comply with our Terms and Conditions. Would you like to give “The Keeper For A Day” experience as a gift? Contact us and we will organise your “Keeper For A Day” gift voucher. Tasmania Zoo 1166 Ecclestone Road Riverside, Launceston Phone: 03 6396 6100 International: +613 6396 6100 www.tasmaniazoo.com.au

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Contents 06 A twine in the night

16 Baby possum – or is it?

Andrea Devos

RECOMMENDED

34 Devil Conservation Park Andrea Devos

08 Eastern Barred Bandicoot

RECOMMENDED

18 Tasmania Zoo Andrea Devos

American Society of Mammalogists

12 Care of bandicoots

RESIDENT VET

25 Ask Colette Vet Colette Harmsen

Andrea Devos

13 Long tailed ‘bandicoot’ Native Animal Rescue

HAVE YOUR SAY

26 Hair tube or hair trigger? Andrea Devos

15 Speckles the magpie

28 Caring for our wildlife

Native Animal Rescue

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

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Andrea Devos

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37 Friends for Carers Andrea Devos

Our wonderful sponsors in this issue Tasmania Zoo Beautiful Giftwrap A Kanga a Day Traditional Postcards Bruce Bain Photography Tasmanian Wildlife Postcards Robin Wingrave Artist Tasmania Zoo Trowunna Wildlife Park Toobuxawik Bonorong Training Sessions

3 5 7 14 17 24 31 32 33 36 38 Page 4

Beautiful Giftwrap GW052 butterflies on pink

GW095 owls

GW205 red butterflies

Beautiful Giftwrap (overall size 495mm x 690mm). Printed on high quality gloss paper, the range has cards to match each design. By purchasing this lovely giftwrap you are supporting Australian wildlife and their carers. Giftwrap is only $2.50 per sheet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we deliver free Australia wide. To order please email tas.wildlife.rescue@gmail.com GW210 dragonflies

GW252 butterflies

A twine in the night M

Y daughter and I were photographing the beautiful shoreline of Bicheno at dusk on our annual holiday when we heard a piteous whine – curious, we started exploring between the rocks and to our surprise we found a fairy penguin all caught up in twine. With much hissing and screeching from this adult penguin who had no resemblence at all to a fairy – we unravelled her and let her go. She was thankful and chose not to bite us – she happily shook herself like a dog, giving her tail a powerful wiggle before waddling happily up the beach.

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Andrea Devos

To our lovely surprise she was noisily greeted from between a deep rock crevice by a half grown chick who was terribly hungry and had been waiting for her return. The mother emptied her crop several times into the baby’s eager beak and finally we watched as they merrily disappeared back into the rock crevice. Here are some photos of my daughter letting her go after she had been set free from the twine... Send in your story and receive a free Rescue Book!! Email to: andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

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A Kanga A Day A Kanga a Day - Day 1001 June 2011: ‘Sandy’, a part albino Bennetts Wallaby (Tasmania) Sandy’s Mum was shot and Sandy was taken home by the shooter to play with the dog! Eventually the shooter handed Sandy over to a Wildlife Sanctuary who then passed him on to a carer. Sandy has since been released on our property and we are most fortunate to see Sandy every day out and about roaming free with all the other macropods on our place. Contribution by Stephanie Clark, Tasmania. Photo by Wayne White. RECEIVE DAILY PICS AND STORIES LIKE THIS ONE Sign up to receive a free daily picture of Brett Clifton’s beautiful Eastern Grey Kangaroos also known as Forester Kangaroos in Tasmania. Email to brett@brettclifton.com

Eastern Barred Bandicoot

American Society of Mammalogists

Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii Grey, Type locality ‘‘Van Diemen’s Land’’ (Tasmania) Only one form of this species is recognised at present, but two subspecies may be warranted. The Tasmanian form is separated geographically from the mainland form (P. bougainville) by the 200 kilkometre wide Bass Strait. The Tasmanian Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) is the most strikingly marked member of the genus, with three pale bars on the rump contrasting with darker yellowbrown dorsal fur. The Victorian type (P. bougainville), formerly widespread, has similar barring but is much smaller and has a white venter in contrast to grey venter of the Tasmanian kind. The tail of the Tasmanian Eastern Barred Bandicoot is dark dorsally only at the proximal end. The Victorian species is dark for its whole length. Did you know you can tell the difference between the Tasmanian Eastern Barred Bandicoot and the Victorian Eastern Barred Bandicoot by the structure of the feet? The Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

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Tasmanian species arise at same level as 5th digit, whereas in the Victorian species they arise posterior to 5th digit. Both species first and 5th digits of the forefeet are clawless; 2nd and 3rd digits possess strong, long, curved claws, which are used for digging subsurface food items; and 4th digit has a weaker straight claw. Hind feet are slender and elongated. Males are heavier than females and larger in most standard body measurements. The Tasmanian form is somewhat larger than the mainland form. Average adult mass is 750g in Victoria and 1,000g in Tasmania. As the eastern barred bandicoot ages, bars may become obscure. Ventral fur is generally pale, slate grey but is white in some Tasmanian specimens. Feet and tail are basically white or pale grey, with tail having a short, darker, dorsal midline at distal end. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot was formerly distributed in south eastern South Australia, south western Victoria and Tasmania. The South Australian population, now extinct, occurred in a small area between the Page 8

Murray River and the Victorian border and was geographically separated from the Victorian population. In Victoria, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot was virtually restricted to western basalt plains, which extend from near the South Australian border to the Melbourne area. Altitudinal range on mainland Australia is from 40 to 420 metres, with most sites between 40 and 200 metres. In Tasmania, the eastern barred bandicoot occurs between sea level and 950 metres, with most populations below 400 metres. By 1980, only a single, declining population was extant in Victoria. This decline prompted the establishment and implementation of a recovery program, which involved reintroduction of the Tasmanian species (P. gunnii) principally from captive-bred stock to seven sites within its former range. In Tasmania P. gunnii is widespread in the north and east but is largely absent from the midlands. It is not known from any islands during the modern era, although it has been introduced to Maria Island, close to the Tasmanian south eastern coast. FORM AND FUNCTION. The slender head, poorly differentiated neck, strong shoulders and forelimbs, and muscular hindquarters are scarcely balanced by a thin, short tail. Feet are slender, with Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

long toes and claws. Fur is coarse, and individual hairs are short and stiff. Hair tracts show patterns of whorls and currents that are characteristic of bandicoots. With courtship behaviour, they exhibit pre-breeding hypertrophy; a pungent odour is secreted by the gland complex. Penis is S-shaped. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot has a welldeveloped, backward-opening pouch situated ventrally between hind limbs. Eight nipples are normally present. Energy demands of lactation are met by increasing energy intake, effected by a change in the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is physiologically capable of

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breeding throughout the year, but in Tasmania reproduction may cease during autumn and early winter. In Victoria, reproduction may be reduced or may cease during hot, rainfall-deficient summers but will recommence within weeks of autumn rains. Timing of breeding is strongly correlated with rate of change of minimum temperature. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot has a gestation period of 12.5 days with an oestrous cycle of 26 days. Litter size ranges from one to five. In Tasmania, litter size averaged 2.5; in Victoria, litter size averaged 2.2. In captivity, average litter size is 1.8. Most litters (78% in Tasmania and 80% in Victoria) contain two or three pups. Litter size may increase in spring because of an increase in available food. Sex ratio of pouch young is 1 male: 1 female. Pouch life lasts 55 days, after which young are left in a grass and leaf nest in a scraped depression until weaned at 70–80 days. Survival of pouch young in Victoria was 92% but decreased markedly post-weaning. Both sexes may begin to breed at 4 months of age. However, breeding may be delayed by 6-8 months when food resources are limited. Neonates are 13.5mm long (crown to rump), have a head length of 5.75mm and weigh 200mg. Neonates

are reddish pink with hairless, glossy skin. The mouth is circular, and the enlarged tongue firmly encloses a nipple. Nostrils are tubular and prominent, and a pigmented area represents the eyes. Neither ears nor sex are distinguishable at birth. Forelimbs are well developed, but hind limbs are rudimentary. Tail is well developed, 3-4mm long. Postnatal development is very rapid. Ears are visible, although fused to head, at five days and are free at 15 days. Eyes open at 30–35 days. Fur begins to develop at 35–40 days and at 50 days the young is fully furred, open eyed, erect eared, vocal and may voluntarily emerge from the pouch for short periods, although full coordination of movement has not developed. Length of head is directly correlated with age, enabling close estimates of birth dates and hence time of breeding from measurements of young in the field. Habitat of the eastern barred bandicoot is grassy woodland and grassland, normally on flat or gently undulating plains. Native grassy regions in Victoria have tussock grasses of the genera Themeda, Danthonia, Stipa and Poa, together with associated forbs, many of which produce underground storage organs such as tubers or bulbs. These grasses have an average height of 500mm. Page 9

A sparse shrub layer is frequently present, which may include Acacia, Banksia, Allocasuarina and Hymenophyllum. Where trees are present, they are species of Eucalyptus, commonly E. camaldulensis, which has a tall, spreading habit in maturity. In settled areas, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot uses heterogeneous habitat provided in gardens and along fence lines on farmland and will often use widespread introduced weeds such as Ulex europaeus or Juncus acutus for shelter. In housing developments, particularly long-established ones, Eastern Barred Bandicoots shelter and often nest under outbuildings or in rubbish piles. In Tasmania, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot colonised farmland created by clearing of former forest and is now rare in its presumed original grassland or grassy woodland habitat. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is omnivorous, consuming a wide range of invertebrate and plant material, most of which is obtained from the soil or litter by the excavation of characteristic conical diggings, the incidence and number of which may be used as an index of population size. Earthworms (Lumbricidae) are a major food, especially in the wetter months. Insects and their larvae are also favoured and include cockroaches (Blattidae), field crickets (Teleogryllus Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

commodus), Coleoptera (especially Scarabaeidae), and moths and caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Bulbs and tubers of native and introduced plants are eaten, as are fruits of the introduced blackberry (Rubus) and windfall orchard fruits. Male home ranges exceed those of females but generally reflect habitat quality. Males may have ranges up to an order of magnitude larger than those of females (males 25.6 hectares versus 3.2 hectares females, but core ranges are much smaller: 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 hectares for males, 1.5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2.5 hectares for females). Home ranges overlap, especially male ranges with those of females. Densities vary with habitat quality and range between 0.35 and 4.8 animals. Young males may disperse up to 2.3 km, but most movements are 2 km. Emigration rates are between 16.5% and 25.5%. In Victoria, few other native mammal species share habitats with the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. The introduced European rabbit is widespread throughout the range of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. This rabbit competes with Eastern Barred Bandicoots by reducing habitat through excessive grazing and may exclude Eastern Barred Bandicoots from favoured shelter areas. In Tasmania, the Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus is

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These barred bandicoot twins were orphaned when a dog attacked and killed their mother. The dog brought the barred bandicoot into the house and the owners went outside to find these two babies running around on their lawn. They were called Hansel and Gretel as they were male and female. Unfortunately both babies succumbed to stress and died three days later.

often sympatric but prefers heavier cover and is more cryptic in behaviour. Nevertheless, it may compete for food. Predators such as snakes, raptors, carnivorous marsupials, the introduced red fox, cats and dogs may be responsible for some of the mainland bandicoot population declines. At Hamilton, domestic cats were the major cause of mortality among juvenile bandicoots, and red fox control is an essential component of conservation management at

reintroduction sites. Wild and domestic dogs are important predators where bandicoots occupy farmland and suburban environments. Infection by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii commonly causes mortality in captive and wild populations. Cats are the definitive host and probable carrier of infection to bandicoots; infective oocysts are shed in cat faeces and then ingested by bandicoots either directly from soil or via the gut content of invertebrates. Toxoplasmosis has been reported Page 10

from the Eastern Barred Bandicoot in both Tasmania and Victoria. It has also been experimentally induced in captive Eastern Barred Bandicoot via earthworms. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot lives 20–30 months in the wild but can live 5–6 years in captivity. Causes of mortality in the wild include predation, disease, poisoning by pesticides and collision with motor vehicles. Cats killed predominantly juveniles, but road-killed animals were mainly adults. Causes of death of 135 Eastern Barred Bandicoots over a 10 year period were 63% roadkills, 18% cats, 8% disease, 5% trapping accident, 4% machinery (mowers) and 2% dogs. The most common causes of death in 270 wild and captive bandicoots was trauma, including roadkills, predation, and trapping injury (71%); infection and poisoning were the cause in 12% of deaths. Bandicoots suffering from toxoplasmosis may be more at risk from predators and motor vehicles because of uncoordinated and often aberrant behaviour that results from the disease. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot breeds readily in captivity, and its husbandry is well documented. Eastern Barred Bandicoots have little economic impact on the Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

community, although they were captured and eaten by aboriginal Australians and probably by early European settlers. Their skins were used for clothing and other artifacts. Nuisance damage occurs when animals dig into private gardens. Rabbit trapping was an important local industry in the late 19th century and trappers considered bandicoots a nuisance when they were captured. Live capture is most effectively done using baited wire-mesh cage traps. Protocols for trapping have been developed to reduce potential injury to the animal. Marking methods include tagging ears (fingerling tags), tattooing ears, and implanting microchips. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is essentially solitary, other than when courtship and mating occurs or when females have dependent young. Mutual avoidance is usual. Males are more aggressive than females and occasionally chase and attack other males, although scarring or injury is rare. In a confined reintroduced population with strong male bias, injury from fighting was more common. Most behaviour in captivity mimicked that described for wild Eastern Barred Bandicoots. Adults were tolerant of juveniles, even those of the same sex. Males initiate courtship when a

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female becomes receptive; copulation is brief but frequent, and many males may mate with a single female over several hours. A maximum of 10 males mated with a single female, 3–4 times each; this behaviour may have been the result of a male-dominated population. Mating is achieved with the male standing erect behind the crouched female, with his forelegs folded back against his body. Contact is only in the genital region. Eastern Barred Bandicoots of both sexes usually resume normal foraging activity straight after. Eastern Barred Bandicoots have a limited range of vocalizations, visual displays, and social behaviours. ‘‘Honking’’ is associated with alarm, and ‘‘sniffing’’ is associated with recognition. The pale belly may be a visual signal of submission, although an erect stance with open, gaping mouth occurs during aggressive encounters. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is relatively long limbed and can move very rapidly quadrupled using either a synchronous running or an asynchronous galloping gait. Sudden jumps (up to 1.5 m high) during escape responses and the capacity to rapidly change direction facilitate evasion of predators. Food is normally obtained by digging conical holes in soil with front

feet. After potential prey has been located, smell may confirm presence of food during digging. Feeding at one site may last 25 minutes and 90% of the time may be spent actively foraging or consuming food items. Food may be rolled and kneaded in the forepaws; this behaviour may be due to unfamiliarity with the item, a need to crush the exoskeleton of arthropods (insects/arachnids), or a way to remove irritable hairs from caterpillars. Drinking is rarely observed; water is lapped with a forward and upward movement of the tongue. Nests are constructed at or just below ground level, depending upon season and soil moisture. Nests are excavated, using only forefeet, in a rapid scratching motion. Soil and litter are pushed back through hind legs, and back is arched to accommodate accumulated material. Nests may be used for several days but may also be temporary. On occasion, nests are built in hollow logs or underneath rocks or other solid features. In suburban Hamilton, nests often are made under buildings or in piles of rubbish. Rabbit burrows are used for shelter and perhaps also for nesting. Most (78%) of 20 nests located by radiotelemetry were within three metres of a woody plant and were frequently very cryptic in placement. Page 11

Nests may be at the base of a grass tussock and virtually impossible to detect without disturbing the animal. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is principally nocturnal, often emerging from the nest only during complete darkness, although animals may be active during twilight. Captive animals did not emerge until almost three hours after sunset. The name Perameles is from the Greek pera, meaning pouched, and meles, meaning badger, alluding to the presumed habit of burrowing. The specific epithet gunnii is in recognition of Ronald C. Gunn, collector of the type specimen. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot was called a variety of names over time such as Barred Bandicoot, Tasmanian Barred Bandicoot, Gunn’s Bandicoot, Striped Bandicoot and StripyBummed Rat. Many thanks to the American Society of Mammalogists for their exciting article.

The care of bandicoots Brown and Eastern Barred Bandicoots (Insectivores)

Andrea Devos insectivore into the milk (available from Wombaroo) helps with the gut flora of your little one. For a complete how to on looking after babies direct from the pouch please look at the article in this issue called ‘Being a Wildlife Carer is not always so pretty’. As they grow bigger you can feed your young bandicoots boiled eggs, fresh berries, small pieces of chicken, insectivore mix or small carnivorous mix ,

OADKILL, dog or cat attacks are the main reasons for baby bandicoots to come into care. Most baby bandicoots need to go immediately onto a special formula milk (Di-Vetelact is a good choice) - hopefully they are old enough to lap. Putting a sprinkle of

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crickets and meal worms (available at your local pet shop). Bandicoots need to learn to

scrounge and dig under leaves and dirt - so supplying this for them is necessary for their instinctive growth. Hiding some meal worms and crickets in this compost is an ideal way to teach them to find food for themselves. All Bandicoots need to have a licence to take them into care.

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Long tailed ‘bandicoot’

Native Animal Rescue

TA S MA NIA N WILDLIF E POS TCA RDS

respecting receptionist in full T was one of those days to be panic. Her scream alone was remembered forever; it started enough to shatter the nerves of with a phone call to Native even the most well adjusted rat. Animal Rescue from a local factory Needless to say, the blokes – we have found a bandicoot on were laughing hysterically and I our premises, it is being cared for bet one receptionist is still trying by the receptionist, it doesn’t seem to live it down. You know how it too well, could we come and is, the skirt would have been collect it. washed five times straight, and I walked into the office and then donated to charity, and the there was the receptionist, animal hands washed and disinfected on lap, giving it a drink and © 2011 Native Animal Rescue sharing some fruit from her lunch A bandicoot relentlessly. How did she get it to sit on with it. Around her were a bunch One quick look at the animal her lap in the first place? They were of the factory blokes, all giving advice cuddled up on her lap, being stroked, baiting for rats and no doubt it had and showing all those signs of wanting told me all I needed to know. This eaten the poison bait. to have a pat but too macho to dare. bandicoot had a very long tail, Next time you see a rat or a much longer than I had seen on bandicoot, just check the length of the any bandicoot. I cleared my throat tail – if it’s longer than the body, it is and said, “I am sorry to tell you not a bandicoot. this Ma’am, but that is not a

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

bandicoot, you are cuddling a rat”. I have never seen someone jump up so quickly, it was as if her chair exploded. The rat went flying through the air; one moment it was enjoying sitting in the lap of luxury, the next it was being rejected with all the adrenalin charged force of a self

Story by Native Animal Rescue Visit them today www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au

Send in your story and receive a free Rescue Book!! Email to: andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

10 postcards for only $8.00 Postage paid within Australia Payment accepted via PayPal Available now from andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au See the full range on page 24

A black rat www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au

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Traditional Greeting Cards

C1094 twilight butterfly

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C0910 Aussie birds

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C1070 pretty owl

Support your local Wildlife and their Carers by purchasing these beautiful Wildlife Cards (folded size = 115mm x 170mm). All our cards are printed on high quality 290gsm card with a UV gloss coating. C1115 Superb Fairy Wren

C1125 mystic owl

C1162 exquisite dragonfly

C1201 pretty butterflies

To order please email andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

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5 for $6.00 C1213 thank you butterfly

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Free Delivery Australia Wide C0835 Big Red

Speckles the magpie A

young family turned up at Native Animal Rescue a number of years ago, with a magpie in tow. They had found the magpie and cared for it for about two years – it had become a pet which they had pretty much loved as a child. It was called Speckles, pretty obvious name I guess, for a maggie. Eventually a real child came into the family and it soon became obvious that Speckles was not going to cope well with the new competition, so he was handed over to us, for the safety of the child. Speckles was placed with other magpies to see if he could cope with mixing back in with his own, with a view to eventual release. He got along quite well with the other magpies, but it was also very clear that he continued to have a strong hankering for human contact. After a couple of weeks of Speckles settling into his new environment, staff at the centre were puzzled by whistled strains of Waltzing Matilda floating across the property. After considerable effort hunting around trying to find the phantom whistler, they were shocked to discover Speckles was the culprit, no doubt taught by his previous carers.

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

He could belt out a complete stanza, pitch perfect. He started to perform for all staff especially at feeding time but also at other times, just for the hell of it. We decided to keep him permanently; he was clearly very happy there and also showed good skills in helping feed younger magpies that were in various stages of rehabilitation. Keeping him also certainly saved some section of the community any drama of trying to find a local phantom whistler. Speckles lived at Native Animal Rescue for about 5 years, but then started to become a bit aggressive to staff – whistling one moment and when your back was turned doing a kamikaze dive, beak first, into the back of your head, not a pleasant sensation. Sort of shows that it doesn’t really work keeping wild life in captivity. One of the staff offered to give Speckles a permanent home at her place where he could live out his days singing away to the many honeyeaters and wattlebirds that frequented her back yard. The staff member raises numerous magpie nestlings and fledglings at home in the spring on a foster care basis, until

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they are ready to be moved on to bigger aviaries, back at Native Animal Rescue, where they can be rebuilt into a family, prior to release. Speckles carried on helping these youngsters by feeding them and caring for them while they were in foster care. One of the reasons for the staff member’s particular attention to magpies is because her family are avid Collingwood supporters, so anything black and white is an attraction. While Speckles was whistling Waltzing Matilda one day, the family wondered whether he had it within him to learn yet another tune, the Collingwood club song. After practicing for many weeks, Speckles cracked it and became quite accomplished. Not satisfied with that, Speckles, on his own, went on to learn how to mimic the calls of honeyeaters and wattlebirds as well as the odd dove call and totally confounded the local wildlife – the Roger Whittaker of the bird world. Fortunately the rest of the magpies were not around long enough for Speckles to teach them Waltzing Matilda, the Collingwood song nor any of his other imitations, although, at

Native Animal Rescue

times, some of them were suspected of having a darn good try at it. As for Speckles, he is still living happily with the staff member, now a very mature 12 year old, learning to cope with retirement. He is pretty much happy to just sit in the sun and reminisce about past times and his singing accomplishments. Story by Native Animal Rescue Visit them today www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au

Send in your story and receive a free Rescue Book!! Email to: andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au Page 15

Baby possum – or is it? I

T is a warm spring afternoon and I got a phone call from a distressed wildlife carer, she asked if I was able to go and pick up what was possibly a possum baby up in a tree - she told me that I would need a ladder and someone to hold it as it was an old lady who had called it in – the old lady had said that she thinks it must have fallen off the back of its mother in the night and now it was caught high up and she was really worried because her neighbours cat was sitting under the tree watching the possum and she was afraid if she left the garden that the cat just may find a way up the tree and have the little baby possum for lunch. I assured the distraught wildlife carer that I was able to take the car and a ladder and go and help the old lady, as I was putting the ladder in my car I get another phone call - the wildlife carer’s voice was alot more urgent now - “the old lady says that she thinks it has a white tip on the end of the tail and that it might just possibly be a ring tailed possum and she is even more worried now about the cat as she can’t get the cat to move away from under the tree and the wind Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

is blowing and she is sure the possum will fall.” I assured the wildlife carer that I was climbing into the car and I was on my way. When I arrived at the old ladies home, there she is waiting in her driveway, wringing her hands and looking terribly worried. She thanked me profusely for coming so quickly and she rambled on about how scared she was for the dear sweet possum and how she couldn’t reach it to save it herself and she couldn’t get the cat to move away from under the tree and with the wind blowing the poor little creature could fall and so she had been standing under the tree ready to catch the little possum if it did fall. Reassuring her that she did the right thing I pulled out my ladder and went with her up a long driveway. Here was the scene that met my eyes: sitting under a 10 foot high lifeless stick-like tree, no leaves on it, with only about 4 branches going straight up and a few twigs coming off those branches, I see this huge fat

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orange cat – he was so large that his legs looked like toothpicks sticking out of a large fat mass. How this cat was ever going to climb this tree when walking looked

Andrea Devos nigh impossible I don’t know, I looked up higher – there silhouetted against a lovely blue sky, holding on for dear life as the branch swayed in the wind was an ugly black rat. He was anxiously watching the cat below, he was all tensed up and ready to jump for freedom if an opportunity arose... the old lady was explaining how she had woken up and looked outside her kitchen window, saw the possum and then she had phoned the RSPCA. I gently turned to the lady and explained to her that she did not have a possum in her tree – actually the animal in her tree was not even a native to Australia, as it was in fact a large black rat. The poor old lady looked stunned, I asked her for a broom and using the broom I was able to guide the rat down a branch and he happily jumped over the fence far away from the fat orange cat. I can still hear the old ladies apologies ringing in my ears... Send in your story and receive a free Rescue Book!! Email to: andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au Page 16

Bruce Bain

Photography These wonderful photographs and many others are available online from Bruce Bain Photography. Please enjoy the full range at http://brucebainphotography.com.au/ Or contact Bruce directly at: Email: brucebain@activ8.net.au Phone: 03 6397 8363 PRINT SIZES AND PRICES (Australian dollars including GST) 150mm x 200mm (6” x 8”) $15.00 Postage within Australia $5.00 200mm x 250mm (8” x 10”) A4 $25.00 Postage within Australia $5.00 300mm x 420mm (12” x 16.5”) A3 $50.00 Postage within Australia $10.00 610mm x 910mm (24” x 36’’) $175.00 Postage within Australia $15.00 Your choice of gloss or semi-gloss (matte) photo paper Postage discounts apply for multiple purchases Photographs can be delivered anywhere in the world, please contact Bruce for quote.

The pictured Male and Female Superb blue wrens are a breeding pair and have a nest in the banksia that they are perched on. The breeding male will retain his bluish colour all year, the female is a brown colour, has a brown tail and a brown beak. The young males look similar to the female but have a blue tail and black beak. The female is ready to lay her eggs in two days’ time – that is why she is so round. She alone constructs a spherical nest with a side entry usually consisting of grass stems, twigs, animal hairs, spider webs and lined with feathers. The nests are made in low bushy shrubs or in thick dry grass . The female will lay four eggs, which she will incubate on her own. When the eggs are hatched the family group, consisting of the father, mother and young males from last year will assist in feeding and protection.

All prints can be matted in a range of colours, with single or double mats available. Matting will be cut to suit your choice of frame. Frame mouldings available in Tasmanian timbers – Blackwood / Celerytop Pine / Tasmanian Oak / Myrtle / Sassafras. Other mouldings (timber framing) also available. Contact Bruce directly for price on matting and framing of images. CANVAS SIZES AND PRICES (Australian dollars including GST) Small 220mm x 350mm (9” x 14”) $80.00 Medium 340mm x 530mm (13” x 21”) $130.00 Large 470mm x 720mm (19” x 28” ) $200.00 For price of postage of canvas please contact Bruce. Canvases can be delivered anywhere in the world, please contact Bruce for quote. GREETING CARDS (Australian dollars including GST) Greeting cards $4.00 EACH (includes postage) PAYMENT METHODS • Direct deposit (email Bruce direct for details) • Cheque • PayPal

ALL IMAGES COVERED BY COPYRIGHT

All prices in Australian dollars including GST

RECOMMENDED!

What an enjoyable time we had at the Tasmania Zoo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A PHOTO ESSAY Andrea Devos

E arrived later in the day at Tasmania Zoo and were amazed at how large the Zoo was. We were lucky because we arrived just as they were feeding the Tasmanian Devils. We got to pat a baby Tassie devil and have a photo taken â&#x20AC;&#x201C; absolutely free...

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TASMANIA ZOO – A PHOTO ESSAY My son was eager to see the crocodile and alligator and so we headed that way, we were lucky as the crocodile was sunbaking in his pool. As we were wandering about looking at wombats, wallabies/ kangaroos, koalas, dingoes and penguins, they had a covered area which housed possums, sugar gliders and quolls. We noticed a lake out the back and upon heading there we came across a variety of monkeys, Sulawesi crested macaques , capuchin monkeys, lion tailed macaques, long tailed macaques, mandrill monkeys. Arriving at the lake we saw the

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most beautiful birds of prey – Tasmanian Wedge tail Eagles – they were so glorious – they were FREE to fly wherever they chose but obviously they lived there on the island – it was wonderful to see these birds wild and free in their own natural habitat.

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TASMANIA ZOO – A PHOTO ESSAY

I really enjoyed the variety of birds – so many different parrots. There was a red tailed black cockatoo who loved to have his belly scratched and he would go into such dramatic squawking and spreading of his wings while you scratched his belly. The macaw too enjoyed a scratch especially his head and under his wings and when you stopped, he would say ‘Scratch’ – he also had everyone in hysterics as he would say ‘Ha ha’ to anyone walking past... Very funny!!

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My daughter’s favourite was the Sulawesi crested macaques (a variety of monkey). As she leaned over to talk to them – one of them put their hand out and she took it and was going – ‘look mummy how gentle he is’ only to have the next instance the monkey pull her towards him and his other hand

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

grabbed some of her hair – pulling it out and he was sitting eating it. The look on her face was so funny!! It didn’t hurt her (much) – mostly her pride. Of course her boyfriend had to get in on the act and stuck his shoe out so they could play with his laces.

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TASMANIA ZOO – A PHOTO ESSAY

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TASMANIA ZOO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A PHOTO ESSAY There is a great souvenir shop with very good prices on their goods â&#x20AC;&#x201C; drinks and food are available as well. Lots of parking is available and they have just made renovations to the front of the canteen. The large variety of animals at the Tasmania Zoo was wonderful. Emus, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, rabbits, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, quolls, possums, snakes, lizards. crocodile, alligator, penguins, koalas, De Brazza Monkeys, Capuchin Monkeys, Sulawesi crested macaques (monkeys), echidnas, sugar gliders, deer and a variety of farm animals such

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as Shetland ponies, llamas, goats, sheep, calves, chickens, roosters plus loads more.

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TASMANIA ZOO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A PHOTO ESSAY All in all we enjoyed our visit to the Tasmanian Zoo and we definitely recommend you take a visit too... Best of all they will come and pick you up in their bus right at the doorstep of your choice of accommodation. (We recommend the Batman Fawkner Inn, 39 Cameron Street, Launceston.) The bus will take you directly to their Zoo and then afterwards they will return you for a small fee. Entry fee and bus fare go to the conservation of the animals in the park and the successful breeding program of the Tasmanian Devils.

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Tasmania Zoo 1166 Ecclestone Road Riverside, Launceston, Tasmania Phone: + 61 3 6396 6100 Web: www.tasmaniazoo.com.au Email: info@tasmaniazoo.com.au

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TASMANIAN

WILDLIFE

POSTCARDS

TASMANIAN WILDLIFE POSTCARDS 10 postcards for only $8.00 Postage paid within Australia Payment accepted via PayPal To order please email andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

Our resident vet is a veterinarian with a keen interest in wildlife. Meet Colette Harmsen

Ask Colette Hello Colette, I am a wildlife carer in Launceston and I have a baby ringtail possum which has kink in its tail – it doesn’t seem to have any pain – should I take it to a vet?

Colette: Ringtails tails are very important as they use them for climbing, balancing and hanging from trees – almost like a third arm – so I’d definitely get it checked out by a vet to make sure it won’t compromise its ability to climb trees. Should I add calcium to my orphaned quoll’s diet? If so, how much?

Colette: This is a very complicated question especially if you are dealing with orphans that do not have a specific daily requirement for calcium well documented over the course of their growing stages. In dasyurids and other orphaned marsupials who have had inadequate calcium (often during the weaning onto solid foods process) they are likely to develop fractures and bone deformities which can lead to major problems as they continue to grow. Orphaned animals are likely to preferentially eat certain parts of the food offered to them for example in Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

baby devils – they will preferentially eat muscle meat and leave the bones and cartilage and stomach contents behind which means their dietary intake of calcium is grossly inadequate. Calcium supplementation is recommended – but make sure you speak to an experienced carer about nutrition of orphaned wildlife. I have trapped a brush tailed possum, she is causing havoc inside my roof – how she is getting in I still don’t know – I relocated her near a primary school over 20 kms away so she would be able to eat out of their bins – but now someone has told me that relocating the possum is giving it a death sentence – is this correct?

Colette: Relocating a possum is probably not the best thing to do. Male possums can sometimes fight to the death over territorial disputes – so relocating male possums can be a death sentence. Relocating a possum to a school has its own issues especially if they create a nuisance there. If you have possums in the roof – you could try the following: • Find out where the possum is getting in and out. More than one place may be involved. You will need

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to watch and listen for the animal’s movements. Look for holes under eaves; loose tiles or roofing iron; or access from underneath a house up through wall cavities to the roof. Possums can squeeze through a nine-centimetre gap! • Make the necessary temporary repairs (prepare something during the day) to prevent re-entry after the possum has gone out to feed at night (they usually leave their shelter about an hour after sunset). Permanent repairs can be made during daylight hours in the next couple of days when you are sure that no animal has returned or is trapped inside (you will need to listen for several days, if the possum has been trapped inside, its noisy attempts to escape will alert you). Repairs need to be sound as possums are quite strong and will work hard to re-enter their shelter site. Young possums always ride in their mother’s pouch or on her back. • Once the possum no longer has access, wash the old entry areas with a strong smelling substance such as disinfectant or bleach, to disguise the scent trails and prevent other

possums following. • Undertake preventative measures to stop access to your roof, for example, remove branches from trees that provide access; use metal flashing to make a disc to place around pipes to prevent them climbing, or place broad metal bands around support beams for structures that they may climb for access. Possums may also be attracted to your property by open compost in which they may scavenge for scraps or for cat and dog food left outside. A closed compost system and the removal of cat and dog food overnight may make your property less attractive to them. • Possums can be encouraged to stay in your yard, and not in your roof, by providing a nesting box or hollow log blocked at one end. It should be waterproof and placed four to five metres above the ground.

Send in your question and receive a free Rescue Book!! Email to: andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au Page 25

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Hair tube or hair trigger?

Hairtube photograph courtesy of Mr Bruce Ashley, Inner West Environment Group (IWEG)

Do you support the hair tube or the remote camera trap? • Hairtube is cheap to make • Remote camera is expensive ONE CHOICE IS A HAIR TUBE A hairtube is an open-ended pipe or chamber that is lined with double-sided adhesive tape. Food is placed in the tube (such as honey, water, peanut butter, rolled oats or a mixture of some or all of these) and as an animal enters the tube to take the food, some of their hairs get stuck to the adhesive tape. By analysing the hairs you can tell what animals used Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

the traps. Different diameter traps and baits are used to detect different species. In Victoria, Southern Ark have surveyed six sites in November 2008 and the results were plentiful – 658 Long-nosed Potoroo, 143 Southern Brown Bandicoot and 652 Brush-tail Possum hair samples were collected. Hair tubes are also used throughout Tasmania. Hair tubes offer several advantages relative to live traps in

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the study of winter small-mammal activity. They are simple to use, do not require handling animals, eliminate trap-related mortality, and can be used at any spatial scale, including the landscape level. Finally, they employ low-cost materials, and can be adapted to a range of conditions and target species. ANOTHER CHOICE IS A REMOTE CAMERA TRAP The advantage of this new technology is that it can be installed in remote areas around the State where more traditional trap and release investigative methods are extremely difficult to undertake. It is an important tool for

Andrea Devos

detecting diseased animals that are shy of traps, considering research indicates that there is a cryptic devil population of around 25% that is never trapped. This method of information gathering has the significant benefit of being non-invasive. Remote sensor camera technology consists of photo-trapping units with twin cameras triggered by a passive infra-red system. Tasmanian devils are lured into the area by either a chemical or natural attractant. When an animal interrupts the infra-red beams a signal is sent to trigger the camera. The remote sensor camera units can be left in position for about 10 days at a time. The data is then extracted from the devices before they are moved to another location. Do you have a story about either of these two products? Please email it to me at andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

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WIN!

a beautiful hand-crafted Bocchetta toy Win a beautiful hand-crafted plush Bocchetta toy of a quoll, tassie devil or echidna. Just send in your story about a hair tube or a camera trap (donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget plenty of pics). Email it direct to me at andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au

Approximate size of each plush is 250-300mm

Being a wildlife carer is not always so pretty! Andrea Devos

RIVING along the road I see road kill – as so often happens here in the state of Tasmania, I get out of the car and find a mother with a baby pinkie – both dead... Tasmania is the road kill capital of THE WORLD with 1,000,000 animals killed on our roads last year and no wildlife rescue service out of business hours available until just recently. (Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary now offer an out of hours Wildlife Rescue Service – call 03 6268 1184.) As a wildlife carer, taking carcasses off the road is an everyday job. Most are dead on impact however we get the occasional few who are injured and we need to take them to the vet. All vets offer free service to wildlife carers with injured animals. Why do wildlife carers remove the dead from the road? For two reasons: • To check if male or female and if

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female to check for any living babies to rescue. • To protect the wild animals and birds who eat dead carcasses and are at a high risk of being hit by a car themselves, such as our beautiful wedge tail eagles, Tasmania devils, eastern quolls and spotted quolls to name just a few. WHAT TO DO IF YOU DO FIND A BABY IN A POUCH? Try to take a photograph of its dead mother (with your phone is fine) so it can be identified. If the baby is attached to the teat do not forcibly remove the baby from the teat as doing this you could injure its mouth as it has a delicate membrane which fuses the mouth to the teat and so you must be gentle when removing the teat. There are two ways to remove a baby from a teat. • One way is to softly squeeze at the corners of its mouth and work the teat out of the baby’s mouth (use only with older joeys) please be careful as doing this can damage the baby’s mouth. • I prefer this way: Cut the teat with scissors as far away from the baby’s mouth as possible so there is extra teat (go as close to the milk mammary gland as possible), then get a safety pin Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

22g Tasmanian Devils – notice two safety pins have been put on wrong – they should be pinned from the back of the fabric

and put it through the end of the teat and then pin this teat with baby attached into a cotton pouch lining, if you have one available. (Always pin the teat so the safety pin is on the outside of the pouch lining.) The baby will eventually lessen its suction on the teat and the teat can be

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pulled easily out of the babies mouth – allow up to an hour for the baby to release the teat. Before leaving the mother get a cotton pouch liner and turning it inside out rub the inside of the mother’s pouch where you detached the baby so that the mother’s smell is on it – this will lessen the stress for the

baby being able to smell her surroundings. Remember that the baby has never heard anything except the heartbeat of her mother, the chewing sounds and gurgling sounds of her mother’s stomach. Do not have any loud music or speak loudly, laughing etc. around your baby as this will stress your baby and your baby will die. The baby needs to be kept warm and the best way to keep a baby warm is against your skin – so put the baby down your shirt against your skin and let your body warm up the baby naturally. Never lift a baby by its legs – always cup the baby with two hands if necessary supporting the baby’s bottom and head and shoulder area. WHAT TO DO NEXT? You will need to take your baby to the nearest vet or wildlife park in your area as all vets and wildlife parks/zoos have a list of carers they can put your baby into care with. If you are unable to take your baby animal to a vet straight away there are things you need to do to make sure your baby is safe and is not overly stressed as stress is one of the highest reasons a baby will die. Your baby needs to be kept at a constant temperature: • Furred Marsupials: 28°C • Unfurred Marsupials: 32°C You need to provide humidity as Page 29

WIN! Wild teats range

well with the heat, place a small dish of water near the heat source – make sure it is shallow so that your baby animal does not drown in it. Do not offer fluids or solid foods to your animal until it is warm and its condition is stabilised. It is best to seek expert advice before trying to feed your animal. Larger animals can go up to 24 hours without fluid, however smaller animals will need fluid. You can give Lectade or Vytrate (available from vets) once its condition is stable – remember you MUST dilute the Lectade or Vytrate (Lectade is 1 unit to 21 units). If neither is available you can offer boiled water Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

and glucose. Use an eyedropper or a syringe, and remember that your baby has a very small stomach – it is better to give a few drops every half hour or hour then a large amount in one go. DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A WILDLIFE CARER? If you are interested in becoming a wildlife carer please contact Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary as they offer free training and you can join their fantastic ‘Friend for Carers’ Program. More information in this issue of the magazine for Friends for Carers Program run by the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania. Ph: 03 6268 1184.

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Email: info@bonorong.com.au Website: www.bonorong.com.au THINGS TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A WILDLIFE CARER Successfully raising these animals takes commitment and dedication. All pouch young should only be fed with specially-shaped, marsupial, latex teats (see picture). Diet varies for each species and its stage of development. However all pouch-dependant young require a low lactose or lactose-free milk formula. Specialised marsupial milk formulae include Wombaroo, Biolac or DiVetelac. Never feed cow, goat, soybean, carnation or condensed milk to marsupials. Colostrum Replacer is vital for marsupials. All marsupials should be put on IMPACT – an immunogoblin which acts as a colostrum replacer which normally the baby would receive through their mother’s milk. IMPACT helps with poor growth rates, lowered immunity in animals

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due to the stress of orphaning. IMPACT can be purchased through Wombaroo Food Products. There are a number of Wombaroo agents throughout Australia. To find your closest agent contact Wombaroo Head Office directly on ph / fax: (08) 8391 1713. To successfully rehabilitate orphans requires establishing ‘gut flora’. Weaning herbivores need to have access to droppings from healthy individuals from the same species. As a wildlife carer you must be willing to go and find these droppings – I can suggest a book called “Tracks, Scats and Other Traces: A Field Guide to Australian Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

Mammals”. I have found it invaluable when trying to identify a skull or a scat. You can tell if your baby has ‘gut flora’ which is essential to their health by the colour of their poo (faeces/scat) • Yellow faeces – no gut flora • Light brown faeces – attaining some gut flora • Dark Brown faeces – good gut flora • Black faeces – obviously eating solids PERMIT REQUIREMENTS Rehabilitation Permits are needed for most marsupials and they are free – here in Tasmania a few marsupials can be cared for without needing a permit, these are: the brush tail possum, pademelon and bennetts wallaby. For all other marsupials you will need a rehabilitation and possession permit – they are issued through Nature Conservation Branch, Dept of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (NCB/DPIWE) and are subject to conditions that ensure the welfare of the animal. Contact number is: 03 6233 6556. Whilst permits are a legal requirement to possess most wildlife (heavy fines apply if found with no permit) the information supplied is also used to try and place social animals together. Rehabilitation results often improve when species such as Sugar Gliders, Ringtail

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ROBIN WINGRAVE Natural History Artist

Sugar Glider Limited edition print (Without matting) - $70.00 Limited edition print (matted) - $90.00

A portfolio of finely detailed graphite pencil drawings or watercolour and oil paintings depicting the natural world of Australia. Available for purchase direct from the artist. www.robinwingrave.com winart26@gmail.com 03 6334 9261

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Tasmania Zoo

Join Wild Nights Wildlife Safaris for an evening of wildlife spotting through the 900 acre property of Tasmania Zoo in the comfort of our custom 4WD coach.

Possums and some birds are placed together. Please note wildlife is to be kept in an environment suitable to the species. Transfer of possession of wildlife, or offering to transfer, sell, exchange, or dispose of in any way is prohibited. Wildlife must not be used for any display, public show or exhibition. Wildlife held under a permit for rehabilitation is to be released and returned to the wild. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

Website of interest is the Parks and Wildlife Service: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au with links to Threatened Species Fauna Handbook. Note sheets which cover a wide range of wildlife issues are available through the DPIWE website: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au

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During your tour, your experienced guide will help you spot and learn about native species such as the Eastern and Spotted Quolls, Wallabies, Wombats, Possums, the endangered Tasmanian Devil and much more. Take a break and stretch your legs at our outpost where you will receive our famous Devil's Dinner (burger, side and beverage). Tour includes: Pick-up from your destination within the Launceston region one hour before dusk, dinner, returning 3 hours later. Cost: Adult $90 Child under 15 $80 Contact: M: 0458 022 559 E: info@wnws.com.au

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Trowunna Wildlife Park

Trowunna has been conserving and rehabilitating native Tasmanian wildlife since 1979 and we have successfully rehabilitated countless orphaned native wildlife such as wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls and a variety of birds to name a few. Trowunna has been operating successful breeding programs, specifically Tasmanian Devils and quolls for over the past 25 years. Trowunnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Devil population is of highest priority due to the breeding success since 1985 and is recognised as one of the longest continuous breeding programs of any species in the world under studbook conditions. 1892 Mole Creek Road, Mole Creek, Tasmania 7304

Telephone: +61 3 6363 6162 Fax: +61 3 6367 6213 E-mail: info@trowunna.com.au

RECOMMENDED!

Devil Conservation Park

Andrea Devos

RAVELLING around Tasmania we decided to call into the Devil Conservation Park near Port Arthur. We were not sure what to expect but we did not expect to find a marvellous and entertaining bird show. It gave us lots of laughs and allowed us to touch the birds and watch them do things that they would do naturally in the wild â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Steve the trainer was wonderful and was happy to answer the many questions thrown at him by the audience. We were so happy to do the devil feeding because lo and behold they feed the mother of 3 babies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; she came off her babies to eat and we were able to take some lovely photos of the sweet little babies. There was so many lovely trees

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everywhere so although the afternoon was hot it was cool in the old orchard walk and we even saw a red chested robin happily looking for bugs among the foliage beside the track. They have a lovely kangaroo feeding area and a flock of Cape Barren Geese who have decided to make the area their home – they have a couple of nests tucked in the tree stumps around the area. Also in this same area is where they keep the female quolls – we were pleasantly surprised yet again to be able to watch the babies. Definitely if you go to the Port Arthur area this is a place to go to see our lovely Australian animals in natural surroundings and have hands on experiences.

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au

December 2011

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Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park™ Email: info@tasmaniandevilpark.com Web: www.tasmaniandevilpark.com Phone: +61 3 62 503 230 Fax: +61 3 62 503 406 Port Arthur Highway, Taranna, Tasmania 7180, Australia

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We need your support Native Animal Rescue (NAR) is totally dependent on donations from the public to be able to continue its valuable work with the care of sick, injured, orphaned and displaced native wildlife and its other community service programs.

NAR’s Toobuxawik program is a powerful way for you to financially help us care for WA’s unique native animals and it is simple – you just donate two bucks a week to Native Animal Rescue’s work and we do the rest. Of course, we are not going to knock you back, if you wish to commit to more than two dollars a week, $2 is a minimum— we would love you to commit to more. Let’s do the sums Two bucks a week is not much, in fact it is less than you would spend to buy an ice-cream or a coffee, but it can be very powerful. If you join the program, at $2 per week, you will donate over $100 a year to support our work with native wildlife. Again that may not sound much towards saving our native wildlife, but if just a thousand people do the same, that is over $100,000 per year towards the work of Native Animal Rescue and that makes a massive difference to the amount of critically important work we can undertake to help our native animals. Just think what we could be doing, if just 5% of the people in WA joined the program. That would generate some $10 million dollars a year towards saving our threatened species and providing safe habitat for them. The Government chips in Because your donations are tax deductible, the good news is that you do not end up paying the full two dollars. Because we are a registered tax deductible gift recipient charity, the Australian Government dips into its pocket and shares the cost with you at your highest tax rate. If you are paying tax at the top tax rate, the government pays almost half of the amount to which you commit. See how powerful such a small amount can become! Not only do we get a significant amount of funding to support our work with native animals, but you have the opportunity to

direct the Australian Government in how it spends some of your taxes. It’s not often you can do that! Compatible with workplace giving If your employer is already operating or is prepared to implement a work place giving program and includes Native Animal Rescue in that program, you can simply nominate us as your charity and the amount you wish to donate each pay. The funds will be deducted prior to you being paid your salary and depending on how much you pay and your salary level, you get the tax saving immediately. If you do not get the tax relief immediately, you will definitely get it at tax return time. Your employer will then forward, after each pay period, the amount deducted from you and all your other colleagues who are supporting Native Animal Rescue. Or you can do it alone If it is not possible for you to be involved in a workplace giving program, we can issue a receipt for your donations and you simply claim the donations at tax time and the Government gives you back its share by reducing the tax payable by you. We can work out a system of payment options that best suits you, as either monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annual payments. Simply complete the form indicating how much you wish to donate and at what frequency then set up a periodic deduction with your bank to forward the money to us at the frequency you choose. Alternatively, if you prefer, we can send you a reminder when your next payment is due.

You are not locked in forever You can withdraw from the Toobuxawik program at any time. We understand that circumstances and interests can change and that you need the flexibility to withdraw, if your circumstances change. If you donate through a workplace giving program, there will be procedures in place within that program determining when and how you can withdraw. If you donate direct to Native Animal Rescue, simply advise us, in writing, of your wish to cease giving. If you are giving outside of a workplace giving program, each July we will provide you with a summary of the amount that you have given for your tax purposes and re-confirm your donation arrangements for the following year. Check our website If you want to check out the type of native animal and other community service programs that your contributions will support, have a look at our website www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au, which is full of interesting information about who we are and what we do. You may even want to join as a member or become a volunteer, either directly caring for the animals or helping out in a range of support roles that are essential to keep Native Animal Rescue functioning effectively. E-Newsletter All donors will receive copies of our e-newsletter that is circulated every second month, to keep you informed of the work at Native Animal Rescue. Contact us If you would like us to arrange to come to your work place to share the program with you and your work colleagues, call us on (08) 9249 3434, or email us at enquiries@nativeanimalrescue.org.au and we can discuss how to best do that. If you simply want to talk to us to get more information, or would like to visit us to have a look at the work we do, please call us to arrange a suitable time. National Animal Rescue 170 Camboon Road, Malaga, WA 6090 PO Box 2276, Malaga, WA 6944 Phone (08) 9249 3434 Email enquiries@nativeanimalrescue.org.au Web www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au

Friends for Carers Andrea Devos

call was heralded from my newly opened email – calling all FOC’s (Friends Of Carers) to please try to make time on October 30th 2011 to go to Mole Creek . A mini bus of 12 seats plus driver was being made available to transport the FOCs up on the day – leaving Hobart at 7:00am on Sunday. Talk about commitment... Out of my email page leapt: It is going to be a day trip and we probably won’t get back to Hobart until late (possibly 7pm or 8pm) depending on how the day goes! More words about the day and taking sunblock and a BBQ is arranged etc etc.. then the email says: Please let me know if you would like to help out on the day and if anyone has any questions just shoot me an email. Of course that is what I do... Asking what is the big day for? This was my reply: There is a lovely carer that lost her husband last year and then injured herself and then a herd of cattle next door broke her fence and wrecked her wallaby enclosure! ....Poor duck! So she has had a bit of a rough run and we would love to help her out Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

so we have arranged this working bee so we can go up and get her enclosure back together, weed, whipper snip all those sorts of things and just give her some general help. She burst in to tears when I rang her to say we were organising a working bee :) It should be a great day! What park do you know would go to such great lengths to help one of their wildlife carers? A BIG thumbs-up to BONORONG WILDLIFE PARK (www.bonorong.com.au) and their successful program ‘FRIENDS FOR CARERS’.

www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au

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Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

HOW TO BECOME A F.O.C MEMBER TODAY!

Wildlife Rescue Training Sessions

7KH ) 2 & :LOGOLIH 3URJUDP LV 7DVPDQLDÂˇV ILUVW DQG RQO\ KU YROXQWHHU ZLOGOLIH DVVLVWDQFH VHUYLFH ) 2 & VWDQGV IRU Âś)ULHQGV RI &DUHUV )ULHQGV RI &ULWWHUV )UHH RI &KDUJHÂˇ 7KLV VHUYLFH LV SULYDWHO\ IXQGHG HQWLUHO\ by Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

WE NEED MORE WILDLIFE RESCUE VOLUNTEERS! x

The F.O.C has taken over 1500 wildlife rescue calls in its first 12 months of operation. We need 1000 more volunteers state-wide.

We have some more training sessions scheduled so please read the info below! If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done so already please book in for one of the sessions so you can start actively getting involved in the program.

Could you be a wildlife rescuer? We have people working full-time, families, uni students and retirees on our rescue team. Everyone can help somehow; if you are unsure contact us!

The training sessions are run so that our FOC members learn everything to do with wildlife rescue and transportation and how to make a rescue kit. You MUST attend one training session before you can help out with animal rescues. This is for your own safety and the safety of the animals that you are rescuing. We need as many of you trained as possible to get the program working even more effectively so please try hard to find a session that suits you and book in.

All you need to do is: x x x x

Give Bonorong your contact details and receive an email about the next scheduled F.O.C training session. Attend a F.O.C rescue training session at Bonorong (Remember training is free of charge) You are then put on our rescue database and you will receive text messages when animals need help in your area. If time allows and you feel like doing the rescue you can volunteer to help. This is not raising wildlife; it is simply rescuing and transporting the animal to where it needs to go. When any wildlife carers need help you will receive group emails for working bees and if you are free, you can volunteer to help them and their wildlife.

Every month we have training sessions. This month our training session times are as follows: (Please note â&#x20AC;&#x201C; training sessions are all the same so you are only required to attend one of the following times). Friday 9th December 2011 6:15pm at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Sunday 11th December 2011 1:30pm at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

It is as simple as that! This program is not designed to overload anyone and no experience is required. It is for people that have too many commitments to raise wildlife but still want to help our amazing animals in some way. A lot of people doing a little can make a big difference.

The training sessions run for approximately 2 hours 15 minutes and there is no cost involved. Please bring along a note pad, pen and warm clothes! (This is if you are coming to an evening session, it can be chilly at Bonorong!) All sessions are run at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bush Tucker Shedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, or occasionally we run a session at UTAS usually in the Life Sciences Lecture Theatre in Sandy Bay. If the course you book in for is at Bonorong then when you arrive at Bonorong please park your car in the top car park (not the first one you get to) as far up as possible. The building at the top end of this car park is the bush tucker shed and there is an access door at the back of the building that people will be able to use when they arrive. If you choose a UTAS course then you will be given directions about one week before the date once we have confirmed what room we will be using.

For more info contact Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on 62 68 11 84 or email petra@bonorong.com.au ) 2 &ÂŤSURWHFWLQJ 7DVPDQLDÂˇV :LOGOLIH

Please RSVP for a training session via return email or by phoning Bonorong on 6268 1184. Children are welcome and you may bring along interested family members or friends as long as you include them in your RSVP. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine

www.wildliferescuemagazine.com.au

December 2011

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