FAUNA E-news 2015:01  
In the spotlight
Happy New Year
Welcome back everyone and welcome 2015.

We hope you all had a great break and are ready to jump into another year of caring for our beautiful wildlife.

May we all have successful rescues and releases.

We had a bit of a rush over the Christmas holidays with bubs coming in from the RSPCA, Ipswich Koala and the usual side of the road, so it is nice that it has slowed a little again.

Can Members please make sure they let Sue Holmes (07 5466 4144) know if you would like any animals and if you have room for a fur baby as it easier for Sue to do her job if you keep here updated on your current status at all times.
Support Shona in the Heritage Bank Volunteer of the Year awards
The Heritage Bank Volunteer of the Year Award is on again and one of our members, Shona Ford, has been nominated! Congratulations Shona. There’s $10,000 up for grabs for the community organisation with the most votes, $1,000 for the winning volunteer, and runner-up prizes as well. Help F.A.U.N.A. and Shona by voting for one of our most willing and active carers.

Voting closes on Friday 6 February 2021 and the winners are announced on 10 February 2015.

You will need to enter your email address and make sure you check it and confirm your vote in time. Please click here to go online and vote for Shona….
Upcoming F.A.U.N.A. workshops and meetings
Updated workshops, new CPD and online education programs
F.A.U.N.A. terms and conditions of membership for all active carers require that permitted carers attend 3 workshops and contribute 4 hrs of fundraising assistance per year in order to remain qualified for their permits. These basic requirements are being continued in 2015 but in a modified format.

2015 sees the introduction of our new CPD, fundraising and online education programs which will be introduced and explained at the February workshop and afterwards in the following edition of the E-news.

All 2015 training modules are being updated with new information and we are introducing some new modules, so we strongly urge all members to attend as many workshops as possible or to complete them online as they become available.
Beginners and Refresher: Saturday 7 February 2021
Workshop Modules: Ethics, Legalities, Obligations and Requirements of Wildlife Care; Wildlife Rescue; Wildlife Assessment; Basic Wildlife Care

These modules are compulsory for all new members and this is the only time they will be presented as one block on the same day in 2015.

Time: 10.00am-14.15pm

Venue: Coominya State School, Main Street Coominya in the library.

CPD Points: 3.5 (1 point per hour of training attended)

Cost: $15 for F.A.U.N.A. members and $20 for non members.

Coffee and tea are provided but please bring a plate to share for morning tea and lunch breaks.
Working Committee Meeting: Saturday 7 February 2021
Time: 14.30pm-15.00pm

Venue: Coominya State School, Main Street Coominya in the library.
F.A.U.N.A. updates
From the desk of the Vice President, Julie Zyzniewski
The huge volume of work done by volunteers in our communities frequently goes unrecognised, so it is always good to get the occasional pat on the back. Late last year, F.A.U.N.A. was awarded the Sustainability Champions trophy for 2014 in the statewide St George Bank Community awards, bringing us $2000 and acknowledging the important work we do in the community. This success is the result of your ongoing work and devotion to the wildlife we care for, so thanks to you all for making this happen.

To lighten the load on carers, our computer guru Jacqui is putting finishing touches to some online training packages that carers can complete in their limited spare time rather than setting aside full days for frequent workshops. Advice and guidance for carers will also be available online.

Planning continues for a major wildlife event later this year which will hopefully provide us with much needed funds and some new members, as well as raising F.A.U.N.A.’s profile in the region and making local people more aware of the wildlife in our area.

We always welcome new members so if you know people who would like to join a progressive group please pass on our details.

Yours in wildlife care,
Julie Zyzniewski (Vice President)
From the desk of the Secretary, Sue Holmes
Well, here we are again, another new year has started. I do hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that you all remained safe and well. I also hope that you are all ready to get stuck in to 2015.

Our first workshop is on the 7th of February and I am hoping most of you will be there, it will give us a chance to catch up, especially for those of you who were unable to make the Christmas lunch. Don’t forget to bring something to share for lunch and we will supply the tea and coffee as usual. I think everyone will enjoy our workshops this year, Jacqui has been working hard and we have a new set up which I think most of you will approve of.

We are in need of a membership boost, especially for birds, so if you know anyone who would like to become a bird carer, please try and encourage them to come along to our workshops so they can meet us and hopefully become one of our F.A.U.N.A. family.
Becoming a wildlife carer
Wildlife carers are a special breed of people
If you are considering looking after injured or orphaned wildlife, there a few things you need to think about.

An important consideration is the reason that you want to care for wildlife. The only reason should be the welfare of the animals in your care. You should not use vulnerable animals to alleviate your boredom, loneliness, lack of direction or to help you with your physical or mental health problems.

Do you have all the facilities you will need, like adequate space, cages, food sources, plenty of water for washing pouches and bedding and cleaning enclosures, floors or cages? Will your neighbours be cool with the extra cages, noises and smells?

You will also need to figure out how to manage household pets around your wildlife in care. While a possum riding on a dog’s back makes a cute photo, the possum will not last long in the real world if it thinks that dogs are friendly creatures to play with. Ideally wildlife and domestic pets should never interact in your home. Wildlife that is raised as a child’s pet will not survive long in the real world either. Children should not carry animals around or sleep with them.

Caring for wildlife takes up a lot of your time, particularly when they are past the baby stage and they are active and constantly getting into mischief. If you add in foraging for leaves, flowers or grass, washing bedding, cleaning up poos & wees, bottle feeds, cuddle & play times you are probably looking at a minimum of 3-4 hours out of your day. If you have a part time job and a young family you are going to get very tired!

Finances can be an issue too. It has been estimated that the cost of raising an orphaned joey to release size is about $1000. Vet milk is expensive but add the cost of medications, washing detergent, water, electricity, bottles and teats, pouches and bedding, fuel for your car to do foraging trips, and additional food when they are weaning, and you can see where the money goes.

Is a spotlessly clean house important to you? Do you have expensive or fragile flooring, or pretty ornaments that you like to keep on display? If so, possums, wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, and bigger birds are definitely not for you.

Finally, can you handle the grief and loss that is an inevitable part of caring for wildlife? Animals in care rarely die as a result of something the carer has done. By the time they get to a carer, an animal has already experienced trauma and loss, it may have been without water, food or warmth for many hours or days and has probably been poked & prodded by various people as well. Any of these events are enough to compromise the animal’s ability and will to survive, and it may have injuries that will not show up until days or even weeks after it goes into care. Sometimes a painless death courtesy of the vet is the final gift – an end to pain or permanent disability. Releasing an animal that you have cared for over an extended period of time can bring on feelings of sadness and grief as well. The best way to deal with this is to talk to someone, another carer is ideal.

You will need good training and support, so joining a wildlife group is the way to go. Not only do you get access to an enormous amount of useful knowledge, practical training and basic supplies, you will also receive an endorsed wildlife permit from the group. Otherwise you will need to apply for an individual permit through Qld Parks & Wildlife Service.

You’ve decided that you are ready and able to care for wildlife, so what can you expect? Lots of work, lots of love, occasional heartbreak and frequent joy. The feeling of satisfaction you will get when you release an animal that you have given a second chance of life to is indescribable, so approach your local wildlife group and start learning and loving our amazing Australian wildlife.

Orphaned Ringtail Possum (Depp) a few weeks after release delighting his carer with an appearance on the night she went spotlighting looking for him and his creche mates
Carers’ Corner
Dehydration in our native animals
It’s been a hot, hot summer so far and it may continue for a while. Can we please continue to think of our native wildlife in this heat and leave water out for them.

It doesn’t need to be a huge bucket. It could be as simple as planter saucers and shallow dishes for birds whilst cut open barrels make great troughs for mammals.
Plant of the month
Acacia Maernsii (Black Wattle)
Height

Small – 6 metres and are short lived

Not so good for gardens due to short life but great out in the wild as a forage and natural habitat.

Attracts

Birds, gliders, brushtails, ringtails and insects.


Fauna Hire Equipment
If you require aviaries, roo pens or other equipment, then please ask Sue Holmes. We have some which you can lease for a refundable deposit of $50 and if you would like to buy them off Fauna, we are happy to look into the value and come up with a good price. We charge a hire deposit now as items have often not been returned when people leave the group. Please remember that if you hire them, they must come back and if they don’t, you will be charged for that equipment.
History Sheets
Please remember to fill out history sheets and hand to Sue Holmes at the end of each year so we can keep accurate records of the wildlife our group cares for and what happens to that wildlife.

If you don’t have a history sheet, please login to the member’s portal and download one here…

If you do not have (or have forgotten) your login details, please email Jacqui on [email protected] and she will assist you.
Let’s go shopping
Wombaroo Pinky Pouch Oil Teats
A lubricant for furless joeys designed to help with the skin care of joeys orphaned and in human care.

It helps to keep the skin soft and supple and ease peeling due to heating and exposure to the environment when the Joey would normally still be in the pouch.

Non greasy and safe to be ingested. WPP Oil contains no petroleum or paraffins which may have a laxative effect. Made entirely from oils of plant origin and classified food safe. It is an oil that is naturally present in the milk of several species (e.g. rabbits, goats, horses and human breast milk).

BENEFITS: Rapidly absorbs into skin to form a protective barrier; softens and soothes skin; lubricates by reducing friction against the pouch liner; does not contain moisture so is not prone to microbial or fungal growth; completely free of synthetic preservatives.

Available in 250gram bottles from www.wombaroo.com.au
Silicone: Baby Critter Teats
View on Facebook
Phone 07 4789-0573

Silicone: Burston Blues
Email [email protected]
Mobile 04 2972 7837

Various: Australian Wildlife Supplies
Email [email protected]
Phone 07 5426 8088
Mobile 0417 749 501
Possum boxes
Kathy Silk
Phone 07 5465 6935 or Mobile 0410 334 661
$25.00 per box
Rodents
The Rat Shed
Phone 07 5424 6519
Milk formula Native plants
Gatton Produce (E.M Redmonds & Co P/L)
Phone 07 5462 1139
Divet $24-00 per kilo and has most other formulae on hand
Pete’s Hobby Nursery
10 Patrick St, Lowood QLD 4311
Phone 07 5426 1690 or Mobile 0412 243 740
Reports from the Wildlife Registers
Please contact the Secretary, Sue Holmes on [email protected] or 07 5466 4144 if you are available to care for wildlife.
Macropods (Sue Holmes)
Eastern Grey Kangaroos: 14
Red Kangaroos: 1
Agile Wallaby: 1
Blackstripe Wallabies: 2
Redneck Wallabies: 23
Rock Wallaby: 1
Swamp Wallabies: 3
Whiptail Wallabies: 1
2014/2015 has been quite busy with 46 Macropods coming into care since July 1st.

If any of you are suffering from empty nest syndrome, please call me and let me know what you can care for.
Possums & Gliders (Sheree Crawford and Sue Holmes)
Brushtail Possums: 22
Ringtail Possums: 10
Gliders: 7
2014/2015 has started a little slower with possums, we have had 39 come into care.

Bats and Miscellaneous (Sue Holmes) Raptors (Trevor Cheeseman)

Bandicoots: 6

Barn Owl: 1
Black Shouldered Kite: 1
Boobook Owl: 1
Pacific Baza: 1
How you can help wildlife
Establishing a safe habitat for wildlife
Every animal needs food, water and shelter to survive. Our back yards, regardless of whether it is urban or acreage size, can be set up to fill these requirements. The size of the area will obviously dictate the numbers and types of wildlife that will become established there. The wildlife that moves into your property could range from small insects through to larger mammals such as possums, macropods, etc.

In small areas such as a balcony, where it is not possible to grow large trees and shrubs, a potted native or two that flower can provide a source of food for passing birds, lizards and insects. With the smaller of these, i.e. lizards setting up home. A water source, possibly a bird bath, depending on the size of the area can be a permanent supply, remembering to keep it in a shaded area to keep the water cool. This, in the hot weather may be frequented by lots of animals as they pass by and with local visitors returning on a regular basis.

Larger areas can be utilised with a correct layout to provide a safe and permanent home to numerous types of wildlife. The species who visit and live on your property will wholly depend on what you are able to plant and where you put these plants. Taking the time to research garden layouts which involve the use of native plants will ensure the best possible start to creating a safe habitat for these animals.

Once established, the pleasure you will get from observing what comes and goes from your garden will be well worth the effort in setting it up. Over time animals will stay and obviously the larger the area, the more varied your inhabitants will be.

With the continuous expansion of buildings and the rapid loss of land, the very fact that you have made an effort to set up an area of safety, regardless of the size, will enable native wildlife to survive and thrive. Remember the three important requirements, food, water and shelter and be happy with the fact that you too can help save our wildlife.

Below is a list of some interesting sites that may be of assistance to you as you look into establishing your safe habitat for native animals.

http://faunature.com.au/
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/native.htm
http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/environment-water-and-waste/wildlife/wildlife-friendly-backyards
http://birdsqueensland.org.au/birds_in_gardens.php
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/appendices/landscaping-and-garden-design


Show us the money
Crowd funding a food bank
Don’t forget our crowd funding campaign to raise money for a food bank which will supply formula, teats, etc. to F.A.U.N.A. carers. We have set a goal for this campaign of $5000.

Please visit our campaign, donate if you can, defiinitely share it far and wide with your family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances across any social media channels you play in http://www.gofundme.com/f859u8
Ways to engage with F.A.U.N.A.
E-news contributions
F.A.U.N.A. will be issuing electronic newsletters each month. Each edition will be full of events, information and tips for wildlife carers. Every three months, the E-news will include the quarterly reports from the committees and registers.

If you have an article, item or tip you would like to see in the E-news, please send it to Shona Ford on [email protected] before the end of each month or call her on 04 5948 4938 to arrange an article.

If you think you will be a regular contributor, please contact the Webmaster, Jacqui Blanch, on [email protected] or call her on 07 5465 6190 to arrange direct upload access.
Road Kill
Please keep a register of road kill and send this information to Sue as this helps us to determine where animals are crossing, where the high fatality areas are and also which species are most at risk. Remember to check for live joeys.

This information is sometimes requested by Councils and Government Authorities and can be helpful in promoting the protection of wildlife and also in raising funds for grass roots volunteer organisations such as ourselves.
The fine print
Disclaimer
The statements and information contained in this publication have no legal status and are provided purely for the interest and benefit of F.A.U.N.A. members to assist members in their decision making processes. This information is for guidance only and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of obtaining professional or first hand advice. No liability can be accepted for any error or omission by the publisher, editor, contributors, officials of or the Association as an entity. Fostercare of Australia’s Unique Native Animals Association Inc. (F.A.U.N.A.) does not specifically endorse any of the products described in this newsletter, but provides the information as a service to its members. F.A.U.N.A. hereby expressly disclaims all liability of any kind whatsoever for any loss, damage or other consequence which may arise from any person using the products or information detailed in this E-Newsletter.
© 2015 F.A.U.N.A. ABN 24 274 942 904