By NOEL MURPHY
SPARE a thought for wildlife as temperatures soar over summer because they often do it harder than humans, according to Helen Burrell.
Wallabies, kangaroos, possums, echidnas, lizards and many more creatures can become distressed, the Leopold Wildlife Shelter carer said this week.
With tourists boosting the local population, trekking along walking paths and tracks, more animals have been coming to the shelter’s attention. But Ms Burrell believes they’re just the tip of the iceberg.
“Any possum you might see on the ground in daylight hours, for instance, is a possum in trouble,” she said.
“It’s the same with birds. You should contain them with a washing basket or a box over it and call for help.
“We’ve been advising people to put water out for native wildlife in shallow dishes in shaded garden areas.”
Ms Burrell said lizards and snakes were especially active across the region, including in heavily-populated suburban areas.
“Lots of lizards have been popping up out of their winter hibernation in gardens all over Geelong. It’s normal, they should be there but may find it hard to find water,” she said.
“We had an awful lot of snake reports, 130 snakes this season. They’ve been everywhere, all over Geelong.
“We had one just off Pako where people had been four-wheel driving and were unpacking when a nice brown snake dropped onto the driveway from under their vehicle and put the fear of God into them.
“At Leopold on Christmas Day, a local man found a king brown in his driveway.”
Ms Burrell said distressed echidnas were relatively common, likewise turtles which often appeared after wet days – “about three or four a week,” she said.
“We got 30 microbats – tiny little things like mice with wings – that were found in a wall cavity in Curlewis by some young blokes who were going to do some renovating.
“No-one should ever touch any kind of bat but we’ve been vaccinated, all our team.”
Ms Burrell said three seals were being monitored at local beaches but declined to say where to prevent curious visitors disturbing them and possibly endangering themselves.
“We don’t want people approaching them,” she said.
“They can outrun a man in a straight line. If you get between them and the water you could be in trouble, they’ll take off after you.”
Anyone who finds wildlife in trouble should phone/text the Leopold Wildlife Shelter on 0409 002 258. Leave a message if they don’t answer, they’re often busy caring for animals.
