Who should I contact about injured wildlife?

Updated on July 7, 2026

H5N1 Avian influenza (Bird Flu) has recently been identified in sick migratory birds in Australia.

Anyone noticing signs of illness in wild or domestic birds, or encountering dead wild birds, must follow the latest regulatory guidelines. Advice can change rapidly so it is essential to consult the most up-to-date recommendations from your state or territory authorities. The highly infectious nature of avian influenza means outbreaks can spread quickly and have devastating impacts on birds.

If you find sick or dead birds;

Avoid touching the birds
Record your location
Report it by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline at 1800 675 888.

For more information and the latest guidelines, refer to government advice pages regarding avian influenza and current disease outbreaks.

If you find a sick or injured wild animal, contact your nearest veterinarian or wildlife carer organisation as soon as possible so that it may receive appropriate treatment. Wild animals become stressed by handling, so you should seek expert advice before handling an injured animal. Try to minimise the amount of exposure the injured animal has to people and loud noises. Do not attempt to feed or treat it unless you have specialist knowledge or training.

To find an Australian wildlife rescue volunteer near you, contact the Wildlife Rescue Australia 24-hour call centre on 1300 596 457, or download the IFAW Wildlife Rescue App.

State and territory contact details for injured wildlife are as follows:

State/Territory	Contacts
Australian Capital Territory	RSPCA ACT (02) 6287 8100 (business hours) ACT Wildlife 0432 300 033 (24 hours) For injured kangaroos, call Access Canberra 13 22 81
New South Wales	WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service) 1300 094 737 NSW Wildlife Council has a list of wildlife rescue groups in NSW
Northern Territory	Wildcare 08 8988 6121 or 0408 885 341 (7am-8pm) Ark Aid NT Government
Queensland	RSPCA Queensland 1300 264 625 (7am-7pm) Wildcare Australia 07 5527 2444 (24 hours)
South Australia	RSPCA SA on 1300 477 722 (9am-5pm) Fauna Rescue 08 8289 0896 (24 hours)
Tasmania	TAS Government Wildlife Management 03 6165 4305 Bonorong Wildlife Rescue 0447 264 625 (24 hours)
Victoria	Wildlife Victoria an 03 8400 7300 Victoria Government
Western Australia	Wildcare Helpline 08 9474 9055

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