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Brisbane Area Rescue Network (BARN) receives thousands of calls each year about orphaned, sick or injured wildlife in need of help. Some of those calls will entail a crazy wildlife rescue involving climbing a tree or chasing a kangaroo, but majority of the time it simply means collecting an already contained animal and passing it onto a vet, another carer or looking after it yourself (for carer members only obviously).
At the moment it is sometimes difficult for our phone operators to find suitable transport for an animal to get to a vet or a carer, as we don't have enough people listed who are willing and able to drive, pick up and drop off injured wildlife.
Did you realise to be on our wildlife rescue list, it doesn't mean you have to climb a tree or chase a kangaroo? It also doesn't mean you have to be available 24/7. Our current list of wildlife rescuers have some members that will only collect a contained animal, or only a particular species, for example birds only, or no reptiles. It also has rescuers that are only available outside work hours, or only on weekends or only until 6pm weeknights etc. We also have some of our wildlife carers listed as drop off animals only, this means that the carer can have animals dropped off, but aren't available for rescues or cannot drive. You also aren't expected to be available every single time the phone rings, our phone operators are very understanding and there is no pressure to always be available. You can also change your details at any time, so when your circumstances change you can also update your details to reflect the changes.
To be on our wildlife rescue list you are not expected to handle the wildlife, unless the animal is not contained and you feel comfortable handling wildlife, you are also not expected to drive for hours on end to pick up or drop off an animal. Our phone operators will try their best to match an animal in need with people in close proximity to that area, this means that you won't be expected to drive more than a few suburbs away to collect an animal, and you can also stipulate which suburbs you are willing to drive to, so the phone operators will only call when an animal is found in one of those suburbs.
The benefits of being on our wildlife rescue list: You get to meet some interesting people that are concerned over the welfare of our wildlife and are usually really happy that you are helping the wildlife that they found. You get a good relationship with your local vets as they are usually very grateful when you are picking up wildlife from them. You get to met other wildlife carers in your local area. You also get to see some amazing native wildlife up close (in the time that I have been with BARN I have rescued or transported: echidna's, koala's, joey and adult possums, turtles, snakes, frogs, blue tongue lizards, countless species of birds including crows, tawny frogmouth's, magpies, kookaburra's, butcher birds, noisy miners, lorikeets, blue faced honey eaters, boobook owls, and then a few species that I have no idea!!.
If being on our phone wildlife rescue list sounds like something that might interest you or you would like to know more, please get in contact with one of our phone operators on 0405 056 066 or email
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