Photograph by Peter Hammond
Latest news
Bat Talk at Floriade
The grey headed flying fox is a regular visitor to Canberra. These gregarious bats camp out with like-minded bats in Commonwealth Park to raise pups, forage for food and socialise. In most years they are summer visitors, but in 2024 a few stayed over winter.
It is an important animal for Australia. The grey headed flying fox plays a vital role in pollinating our native forests, travelling up to 100km a night spreading seeds and pollen. Unfortunately, they are a vulnerable species, with numbers declining due to habitat loss, climate change and and human-made hazards.
Join Stephen Bartos and Clare Wynter, bat carers with ACT Wildlife, for their fascinating talk on these amazing animals. The Gallery, Floriade, Commonwealth Park Sunday 13 October 2-3 pm.
Fruit Tree Net Swap
Replace your unsafe fruit-tree netting for free!
Unsafe fruit nets are now banned in the ACT.
If your finger fits through the mesh in your net, then it is unsafe as possums and flying foxes could easily become trapped.
Do you have unsafe netting? For a limited time, ACT Wildlife supported by the ACT Government, will replace it with a wildlife-friendly net for FREE.
Mark your calendars for the swap dates, taking place on Saturdays 10.30am – 1pm at the ACT Wildlife Office, Jerrabomberra Wetlands:
• 24, 31 August
• 7, 14, 21, 28 September
• 5, 19 October
• 2, 16, 30 November
• 7 December
To learn more about the new netting legislation head to the ACT Government website.
Find out more about using safe fruit nets.
Image: Tolga Bat Hospital
Avian Influenza in the ACT
Avian influenza (HPAI H7N8) has been detected at a commercial farm in the ACT.
The property is under quarantine and ACT Biosecurity is working closely with the property to manage the infection using national response arrangements.
The ACT Government has declared a restricted quarantine area and a control quarantine area to reduce the movement of birds and other high-risk materials. You can view a map of the 2 quarantine areas on the ACT Government website.
The government is monitoring the situation closely and restrictions may change depending on progression of the outbreak.
Birds that can be affected
Avian influenza can affect many bird species including wild birds and domestic poultry.
Wild birds at higher risk of hosting avian influenza include waterbirds due to their migratory behaviour and birds of prey.
What to do
Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility. It’s important we all keep up-to-date on the situation.
Birds must not be transported outside the quarantine zones. This includes any rescued wild birds or wild birds in care.
Be aware of the possible signs of avian influenza in birds:
- watery eyes
- breathing difficulties
- swelling and purple discoloration of the head, comb, wattles and neck
- coughing, sneezing, or rasping respiration
- ruffled feathers, depression, closed eyes
- diarrhoea
- nervous behaviour
- sudden death.
If you notice symptoms that seem consistent with avian influenza, call the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
More information is available on the ACT Government website.
About Us
We are Canberra’s only multi-species wildlife care group in the ACT that rescues, rehabilitates and releases native animals. As a not-for-profit and charity we rely on donations to support the work of our volunteers.
Get Involved
Volunteers are our backbone. We welcome you to help in all aspects of rescue and care of the common species in the ACT including behind the scenes work. Training is provided.
Found an Animal?
Call our 24/7 Hotline
0432 300 033
Gently place the animal in a box with a towel or cloth and keep it warm and quiet. If you are unable to contain the animal, please stay near it and call our hotline with directions for rescue.
Important points:
FLEDGLING BIRDS DO NOT ALWAYS NEED RESCUING
Baby birds come out of their nests and cannot fly well for a few days. They are attended to by their parents during this time. Please watch from a distance and if you do not see parents then they may need to be rescued. This is usually not necessary. Call if you want to report an ‘abandoned’ magpie or bird – 0432 300 033
KEEP YOUR FELINE FRIEND INSIDE
You can love your cat and wildlife too. Under the ACT government’s plan, all new cats obtained by owners after July 1, 2022 will have to be contained, regardless of which suburb they live in.
PLEASE DO NOT FEED BIRDS
Birds, especially magpies are abundant in the ACT. They frequent places where people eat and because people feed them they begin to rely on this (inappropriate) food and demand it.
BIRD NETTING DANGERS
With fruit ripening on trees inappropriate netting traps birds and flying foxes. Netting should have holes that you cannot put your little finger through and be stretched on a frame away from the branches. This means that birds and flying foxes can land and take off from the netting. Otherwise they get hopelessly caught up in loose, sloppy nets. Protecting Wildlife Netting Brochure: Flying foxes should not be touched because of the danger of Lyssavirus, a fatal disease unless you are vaccinated. If you should be bitten or scratched you should attend the hospital emergency clinic immediately and leave rescue of the animal to vaccinated carers with ACT Wildlife.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY POISONING
Poisons used to kill rats and mice are threatening wildlife and their environment. They are also a threat to children and pets with consequences that can lead to death. Read the full document here outlining the dangers and how to reduce the risk.
Meet Albert
Albert is a young magpie that fell out of his nest well before he could walk or fly. Named after Eistein for his crazy ‘hair’, Albert obviously didn’t know much about physics when he edged out of his 15m high nest.
Like most baby birds, he’s a hungry little fella who lets you know when it’s time to eat. He’s growing quickly, along with other young magpies being raised with him.
Baby birds don’t always need rescuing. Many can’t fly well when they leave the nest. Their parents usually continue to look after them, so just keep an eye on them for a while. If you don’t see their parents, give us a call on 0432 300 033.