Injured animals

Native wildlife are often hit by motor vehicles, or caught in barbed wire fencing.  When you find an animal in distress, or in need of assistance, you should:

• Observe the animal for signs of injury and approach it carefully. The animal will be scared, and may try to run away, bite or scratch you.
• Remove the immediate threat. This might involve moving the animal off the road, out of a swimming pool or away from other animals such as dogs and cats or birds.
• Check if dead marsupials have live young in their pouches. The pouch young may survive with the proper care.
• Make sure that any actions you take are done safely. When driving, take the time to park carefully and do not put yourself or anyone else in danger.
• Contact RSPCA or Wildcare for help. Identify and describe the animal, what has happened to it, where and when you found it, and what condition it appears to be in.

The Scenic Rim is home to an abundance of native birds and animals and we all have a part to play in caring for the creatures which share our spectacular environment.

Recent reports to the Department of Environment and Science of dead and dying birds on Tamborine Mountain have highlighted the importance of taking care to reduce our impacts on the environment. Scenic Rim Regional Council urges residents to limit the use of insecticides, poison baits and poisons in general as poisons, such as insecticides, can move through the food chain and affect wildlife.

If you find a sick, injured or dead bird on Tamborine Mountain, please take it to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

Report any sick, injured or dead birds you have seen, or see, to the DES hotline on 1300 130 372 and follow the prompts or report it to Wildcare through their 24/7 Hotline on 07 5527 2444.

More information about helping to rescue injured native animals, including what not to do, is available on Wildcare's website  https://wildcare.org.au/rescue-information/

All native animals are protected under the Nature Conservation Act.  This applies to all protected wildlife and includes endangered, vulnerable, rare and common wildlife. For assistance in helping sick and injured wildlife, call the Wildcare 24/7 hotline on 07 5527 2444 or RSPCA's hotline on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).

Animal carers

Snakes

There are a number of snake species that make their homes in Scenic Rim region, including the eastern brown snake, whip snake, tree snakes and the red-bellied black snake. Some of these species are venomous, others non-venomous. All snakes that are encountered in their natural habitat are shy, wary creatures that will generally go to great lengths to avoid human contact.

Council does not remove snakes from private premises. Snake relocation services are provided by private individuals who hold a Damage Mitigation Permit issued by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Contact details for a licensed snake catcher in your area may be obtained by telephoning: The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) Permit and Licence Management on 1300 130 372, local newspapers and snake catcher websites including the Wildlife Qld 24 hour Snake Catcher Directory or Snake Catchers Brisbane.