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Found a sick or injured animal?

In Western Australia, ring the Wildcare Helpline

(08) 9474 9055

Volunteers answer for DBCA, the state wildlife department, and put you in touch with the nearest registered wildlife rehabilitator. They advise by phone; they don’t come out. DBCA

Sick or dead wild bird? Don’t touch or move it. Ring the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888: H5 bird flu has been found in wild birds in WA. DPIRD

An independent guide, not a helpline or rescue service Numbers checked 9 Oct 2026 33 sources

What to do if you find

injured wildlife? Keep yourself safe, then ring for advice. These are DBCA’s steps for WA. Other states’ advice is with their numbers, below.

  1. Keep yourself safe. A hurt animal is frightened and stressed, and can be very dangerous. Watch for teeth, claws and beaks. Never handle the animals in the next section. DBCA WA Wildlife
  2. Ring the helpline first. That’s DBCA’s advice for any wildlife incident. Tell them where you found the animal, the time of day, and what state it was in. Opening hours aren’t published, and volunteers take around 10,000 calls a year, so if it’s busy, be patient. DBCA DBCA DBCA
  3. If it’s small and safe to handle, place a towel over it, lift it gently and put it in a ventilated box of the right size. If you’re worried about picking it up, get someone to help. DBCA DBCA
  4. Keep it warm, dark and quiet, and touch it as little as you can. DBCA
  5. No food or water unless a wildlife rehabilitator tells you to. Never bread or milk. DBCA
  6. Wash your hands well afterwards. DBCA
  7. Let a vet or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator take over. DBCA: “Do not keep wildlife without seeking expert advice, as the animal may not survive.” DBCA DBCA

Can you touch wild animals

that are hurt? A small one, carefully, if it’s safe. These, never. Keep back and ring.

  • Sick or dead wild birds

    Don’t touch or move them. Note how many, where and when, and ring the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. H5 bird flu was first found in Australia at Esperance in June 2026, and since then in wild seabirds in WA, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. DPIRD

    Found a dead bird on your property? Don’t throw it out until you’ve reported it. An injured or orphaned animal goes to the Wildcare Helpline. DPIRD

  • Bats and flying-foxes

    Don’t touch a bat, alive or dead. WA Health says only people vaccinated against rabies and trained in caring for bats should ever handle them, as bats may carry and pass on lyssavirus. WA Health DBCA WA Wildlife

    Bitten or scratched? Wash the wound with soap and water for at least 5 minutes, and see a doctor as soon as possible. WA Health

  • Snakes

    Keep back, and keep children and pets away. The Wildcare Helpline gives advice on snakes. Even a dead snake can release venom if it’s handled wrongly. DBCA WA Wildlife

    Bitten, or think you might be? Ring 000 for an ambulance. WA Health

  • Kangaroos

    Don’t approach or chase a hurt kangaroo. They kick hard and have sharp claws, and chasing one can make its injuries worse. Keep people and pets away, watch from a distance and ring the helpline. DBCA

    Look for a joey nearby: if you find one, wrap it up to keep it warm and ring for advice. On a road, put your own safety first. For a road hazard, ring the police on 131 444 or Main Roads on 138 138. DBCA

  • Birds of prey

    Leave birds of prey to trained rescuers. Talons can cause severe injuries, and some have very strong beaks. WA Wildlife

  • Whales, dolphins and seals

    Keep a safe distance. For a stranded, tangled or hurt whale or dolphin, ring the Wildcare Helpline. Seals often rest for long periods and may not be hurt: check DBCA’s Be Seal Wise page before you call. DBCA DBCA

Wildlife rescue in Perth

and the South West. Start with the helpline, which refers callers to registered rehabilitators across WA. These centres list their own numbers and hours. DBCA

  • WA Wildlife Hospital

    Bibra Lake, Perth · 172 Hope Road

    Open every day of the year, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Medical care is free for wildlife brought in by the public. WA Wildlife WA Wildlife

    (08) 9417 7105

  • Kanyana Wildlife

    Lesmurdie, Perth hills · 120 Gilchrist Road

    Open 7 days, 8 am to 7 pm, to drop off sick and injured wildlife. Kanyana

    (08) 9291 3900

  • Perth Wildlife Hospital

    Malaga, Perth · run by Native Animal Rescue

    Hours aren’t listed on its site, so ring first. Perth Wildlife Hospital

    (08) 9249 3434

  • FAWNA

    Busselton, South West

    A wildlife rescue and rehabilitation group. Hours aren’t listed. FAWNA

    0438 526 660

After hours, WA Wildlife says to take a sick, injured or orphaned native animal to your nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital. WA Wildlife

An injured kangaroo after hours? WA Wildlife says to contact your local police station, not 000. WA Wildlife

Elsewhere in WA, the helpline holds the list of registered volunteer rehabilitators across the state. DBCA’s helpline page also maps other places that may help if the line is busy. DBCA

Injured wildlife hotline

numbers for the rest of Australia. Each one is from the organisation’s own site, checked 9 Oct 2026. The first steps barely change from state to state; the rules on who may care for wildlife do.

NSW New South Wales

WIRES Wildlife Rescue Office

1300 094 737

24 hours a day, 365 days a year. WIRES

  • Greater Sydney: Sydney Wildlife Rescue, 24/7, (02) 9413 4300 Sydney Wildlife
  • The NSW Government says only licensed wildlife rehabilitators or vets can take a native animal into care, and you must not try to rescue snakes, bats, flying-foxes or marine wildlife. NSW Government

SA South Australia

A local wildlife rescue group

SA Government advice

South Australia has no single line. The state government says to call a local wildlife rescue organisation, or, if none can help, a vet (ring first). In a national park or reserve, or for a marine mammal, call the National Parks and Wildlife regional duty officer. SA Government

ACT Australian Capital Territory

ACT Wildlife

0432 300 033

A 24/7 hotline, answered by volunteers. ACT Wildlife

  • An injured kangaroo, or a crash with any animal: Access Canberra, 13 22 81 (24 hours). ACT Parks
  • Don’t approach an injured adult kangaroo, and don’t try to rescue or handle bats or flying-foxes. ACT Parks

NT Northern Territory

Volunteer groups and vets, by town

NT Government list

The NT has no single line. Its wildlife groups are run by volunteers, who may not call back straight away. The government’s list covers Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. NT Government

Sick or dead wild birds, anywhere in Australia: don’t touch them. Note where they are, and ring the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Australian Government Qld NT

Who to call for injured

wildlife after hours, and the other questions people ask. Each one is answered in its first line.

Who do I call for injured wildlife after hours in WA?

Try the Wildcare Helpline first, on (08) 9474 9055. DBCA doesn’t publish its hours. DBCA If you can’t get help, WA Wildlife says to take the animal to your nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital, and to contact your local police station (not 000) about an injured kangaroo. WA Wildlife WA Wildlife

Will the Wildcare Helpline come and get the animal?

No. It’s a phone referral service. It gives advice and refers callers to a wider network of experts, but it can’t attend rescues, and it can’t help with non-native or domestic animals. DBCA

Can I keep an injured wild bird?

No, not to care for yourself. In WA, if you take in an injured or abandoned native animal, within 72 hours you must release it where you found it (if it can fend for itself), or hand it to a vet, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or a wildlife officer, or apply for a licence. BC Regs r 126

If it’s a threatened species, such as the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo, you must also tell DBCA in writing within 24 hours. BC Regs r 124 DBCA list

Our reading of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 (WA), not legal advice. Other states’ rules differ; see your state above.

Can you take injured birds to the vets?

Yes: a vet is one of the places DBCA says to take sick or injured wildlife. Ring first. DBCA For a bird that looks sick, ring the bird flu hotline first: DPIRD says not every vet or wildlife centre will take sick birds while H5 is about. DPIRD

We haven’t found an official WA statement on whether vets charge for wildlife. The WA Wildlife Hospital says its medical care is free for wildlife brought in by the public WA Wildlife, and in NSW, WIRES says many vets accept wildlife free of charge. WIRES

What about a sick or injured pet or farm animal?

Ring a vet. The wildlife lines are for native animals: DBCA’s helpline can’t help with non-native or domestic animals. For a stray, ring your local council or shire. DBCA WA Wildlife

To report cruelty in WA, ring the RSPCA on 1300 278 358 (monitored 8 am to 5 pm). If a person’s or an animal’s life is in immediate danger, the RSPCA says to call the police on 131 444. RSPCA WA

Found a baby bird on the ground?

If it has feathers, leave it alone and watch from a distance. It’s probably a fledgling, and mum and dad are usually close by. If it’s injured, ring the helpline. DBCA If it looks sick, don’t touch it: ring 1800 675 888. DPIRD

Is Healthy Wildlife a rescue service?

No. We’re an independent guide, written in WA. We can’t take calls, give vet advice or collect animals, and we aren’t connected to any council, government department or wildlife group. If an animal needs help, ring the numbers on this page. About this site

Sources, checked 9 October 2026

  1. Wildcare Helpline DBCA (no date shown): (08) 9474 9055; volunteers on behalf of DBCA, managed by WA Wildlife; what it can and can’t do; around 10,000 calls a year; first aid; bats; kangaroos (police 131 444, Main Roads 138 138); baby birds; whales and dolphins; H5 notice
  2. Helping sick or injured native wildlife DBCA (no date shown): note where, when and what condition; how to handle small injured wildlife; kangaroos; marine mammals
  3. Contact us DBCA: “for wildlife incidents always call the Wildcare Helpline 9474 9055 first”
  4. H5 bird flu in Western Australia DPIRD, updated 9 Oct 2026: avoid, record, report; 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888; injured or orphaned wildlife to the Wildcare Helpline; first case Esperance, 19 June 2026; dead birds on private property; not all facilities accept sick birds
  5. Found an injured animal? WA Wildlife (no date shown): never handle snakes, bats, adult kangaroos or birds of prey; injured kangaroos after hours, local police (not 000); domestic animals to a council ranger or vet
  6. Contact us WA Wildlife: (08) 9417 7105; 172 Hope Road, Bibra Lake; 365 days, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; after hours, nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital
  7. WA Wildlife Hospital WA Wildlife: open 365 days, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm; free medical services to wildlife brought in by the public
  8. Kanyana Wildlife (08) 9291 3900; 120 Gilchrist Rd, Lesmurdie; open 7 days, 8 am to 7 pm, to drop off sick and injured wildlife
  9. Perth Wildlife Hospital Native Animal Rescue Inc., Malaga: 08 9249 3434; no hours shown
  10. FAWNA Inc. 0438 526 660; PO Box 551, Busselton; no hours shown
  11. Rabies and lyssavirus WA Health (HealthyWA): only vaccinated, trained people should handle bats; don’t touch a bat; if bitten or scratched, wash for at least 5 minutes and seek medical attention
  12. First aid for bites and stings WA Health (HealthyWA): for a snake bite, phone 000 for an ambulance
  13. Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 (WA), regs 124 and 126 as at 31 Mar 2025: written notice within 24 hours for threatened or specially protected fauna; release or hand over within 72 hours
  14. Threatened and Priority Fauna List, July 2026 DBCA, updated 31 Jul 2026: Carnaby’s cockatoo, Endangered
  15. Contact us RSPCA WA: cruelty line 1300 278 358, monitored 8 am to 5 pm; life in immediate danger, WA Police 131 444
  16. Report a rescue WIRES: 1300 094 737; “24 hours a day, 365 days a year”
  17. Emergency rescue advice WIRES: “many vets will accept wildlife free of charge”; call the vet first
  18. Sick or injured animals NSW Government, updated 1 Jul 2026: only licensed rehabilitators or vets can take native animals into care; don’t try to rescue snakes, bats, flying-foxes or marine wildlife
  19. Sydney Wildlife Rescue 24/7 emergency line 9413 4300; greater Sydney
  20. Report a wildlife emergency Wildlife Victoria: (03) 8400 7300; staffed 24/7; at no cost
  21. Help for injured wildlife DEECA (Victoria): 136 186, general enquiries and wildlife emergencies; whale and dolphin hotline 1300 136 017; finder tool
  22. Helping sick, injured or orphaned wildlife Queensland Government, reviewed 3 Jul 2026: 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625), 7 am to 7 pm, 365 days; marine strandings 1300 130 372, option 1; 72 hours; bird flu 1800 675 888
  23. Helping wildlife SA Department for Environment and Water (no date shown): local rescue group, duty officer, vet; don’t touch snakes, bats or marine wildlife; permit needed
  24. Fauna Rescue SA bat rescue hotline (24 hours), (08) 8486 1139
  25. Contact us Bonorong: 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Hotline, 0447 264 625
  26. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service providers NRE Tasmania, published 10 Sep 2026: Bonorong 24-hour; Raptor Refuge 1800 727 867
  27. Contact us Raptor Refuge: Raptor Rescue Hotline, 1800 727 867
  28. What to do if you find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife NRE Tasmania, published 7 Sep 2026: rescue without a permit, then transfer; snakes, platypus and bats by trained people only
  29. ACT Wildlife 24/7 hotline 0432 300 033; dead birds, 1800 675 888
  30. Wildlife ACT Parks: Access Canberra 13 22 81 (24 hours) for injured kangaroos and crashes with animals; don’t handle bats
  31. Report injured wildlife or rescue NT Government: volunteer groups and vets by town; some vets at no charge; carer’s permit; bird flu 1800 675 888
  32. Wildcare Inc Darwin: 7 am to 8 pm, 08 8988 6121 or 0408 885 341
  33. Report suspected H5 bird flu Australian Government (DAFF), updated 6 Oct 2026: don’t touch sick or dead birds; record your location; 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888

We list only numbers we could confirm on the organisation’s own site. Where a state has no single line, we link to its government’s own list instead. Numbers change: if one is wrong, the state wildlife agency’s site is the place to check.

Healthy Wildlife is an independent guide, not a helpline, rescue service or vet. We can’t take calls about animals.