21.1 C
Byron Shire
March 27, 2024

Sharing our habitat with wildlife

Latest News

We just love him!

If you’re over 50 you might not be a fan of Tom Jones, but you can bet your mum is. If you’re under 40 you might not even know who he is, but your grandmother probably wet her pants at the mere mention of his name.

Other News

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Big week in Byron Bay for adaptive surfers

Australia’s first-ever international adaptive surfing contest held in Byron Bay last week was an overwhelming success according to organiser Mark ‘mono’ Stewart.

State of confusion

If any of you watched Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, you would know that it was a...

Mullum pods

They look so uninviting and dismal. It would not cost a lot to change the name to ‘tiny homes’...

Adaptive Surf Pro winds up in Byron

A week of mixed weather had seen almost 100 adaptive surfers take on the beaches of Byron Bay in the Byron first international adaptive surfing event to be held in Australia – the 2024 Australian Pro.

Seize the Decade report outlines benefits of renewables

The Climate Council says many more Australian families can directly benefit from rooftop solar and batteries under a new plan that spells out how we can electrify the nation and cut climate pollution this decade.

Critters like this loveable little echidna 'puggle' are regularly rescued by Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers. Photo Perth Zoo
Critters like this loveable little echidna ‘puggle’ are regularly rescued by Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers. Photo Perth Zoo

Matthew Cusack

Up to 27 vulnerable or endangered species share habitat with residents of the north coast, including the red-legged pademelon and Fleay’s barred frog.

When these and other critters get into trouble, residents regularly call on the Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (NRWC) to help out.

Such a case happened recently, when a quick-thinking excavator operator saved a baby echidna.

‘At the moment we are caring for an echidna puggle, which is the name for a baby echidna,’ the group’s publicity officer Chrisy Clay told Echonetdaily.

‘He was accidentally dug up by an excavator operator on a property next to Bangalow cemetery.

‘The excavator driver called us and we came immediately.

‘Unfortunately it’s difficult to reunite puggles with their mothers in this situation, because the mother is unlikely to continue using the burrow,’ she said.

‘Baby echidnas are carried in their mother’s pouch, but when they start to become spiky they are left in the burrow.

‘At this time the mother goes hunting for food and only comes back to give her baby a big feed every three days, so we try to emulate this natural rhythm for puggles in our care.’

Native animals living close to urban areas like this are at particular risk and the majority of animals rescued by NRWC come from Lismore, Ballina and Byron Bay.

Now NRWC is calling for residents of these areas to give back some time and help out the helpers.

The group, which has been rescuing injured wildlife for more than 20 years, is holding a training day on Sunday March 9 at Southern Cross University, Lismore.

Chrisy will be showing participants how to rescue and assess injured wildlife.

For those who wish to enhance their skills, or have a desire to work with native wildlife, the NRWC can also provide a range of specific further training courses, throughout the year.

The introductory course costs $35 and includes a year’s membership and insurance with the NRWC.

This fee also helps to subsidise resources, to keep training costs minimal and helps to fund ongoing animal-rescue expenses.

Members can tailor their involvement as they wish but all course participants will receive a wildlife rehabilitation licence and no particular skills or experience are required.

For those considering volunteering, NRWC spokesperson Cheryl Cochran says, ‘regardless of how much time you have or where you live, there will be a role for you.’

Volunteer roles can include rescues, transport to vets or assistance with administration tasks.

People with wildlife-caring experience are welcome to help with educational work.

To get involved, contact: [email protected] or phone 6628 1866.

For more information on government conservation programs, follow the links at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Peter Garrett gives Bluesfest the nod

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Save Wallum finalist in NSW 2024 environment awards

The Save Wallum campaign has been named as a finalist in the Nature Conservation Council of NSW Environment Awards 2024. The award ceremony will be held in Sydney tonight, and Save Wallum spokesperson and ecologist James Barrie will be attending with Tegan Kitt, another founding member of the group.

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

UK court seeks assurances from US over Julian Assange

The UK High Court of Justice has released a 66 page judgement seeking more information from the United States relating to Australian citizen Julian Assange, which it says it needs before deciding whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder leave to appeal his extradition.