A Fighting Chance
Your Guide to Helping Roadside Wildlife in the Macedon Ranges
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I've Found an Animal: What To Do
If you’ve encountered an animal on the road, your safety is the first priority. This guide provides immediate, essential steps. Follow them carefully to ensure the best outcome for both you and the animal.
1️: YOUR SAFETY FIRST
- Pull over to a safe location, well off the road.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Wear a high-visibility vest if you have one.
- Assess traffic before exiting your vehicle.
2️: ASSESS THE ANIMAL
- Is it alive? Look for signs of breathing or movement.
- If injured and alive, **DO NOT HANDLE**. Call Wildlife Victoria immediately and keep a safe distance.
- If you are 100% certain the animal is deceased, proceed to the next step.
3️: CHECK THE POUCH (if female marsupial)
- If it’s safe, move the animal to the side of the road.
- Gently open and thoroughly check the pouch with a torch. Joeys can be tiny.
- Have a towel ready to block the exit for older, mobile joeys.
4️: IF A JOEY IS FOUND
The golden rules are **WARMTH, DARKNESS, and QUIET.**
- Place the joey in a makeshift pouch (jumper, beanie, pillow case).
- Keep it warm against your body or with a wrapped heat pack.
- DO NOT give food or water. This can be fatal.
- Mark the mother with a spray-painted ‘X’ or two crossed sticks so others know she has been checked.
Call For Help Immediately
Contacting an expert is the most important step.
Call Wildlife Victoria: 03 8400 7300 (24/7)
Learn & Prepare
Being prepared can save a life. This section provides detailed information on how to perform a pouch check safely and effectively, and what you should have in your car to help.
Your Pouch Check Kit
Macedon Ranges Marsupials
Our region is home to a rich diversity of marsupials. Knowing who lives here helps us protect them.
- 🦘 Eastern Grey Kangaroo
- 🐨 Koala (backward-opening pouch)
- ⚫️ Common Wombat (backward-opening pouch)
- 🐿️ Brush-tailed Phascogale
- 🐭 Possums & Gliders
- 🐁 Dunnarts & Antechinus
The Gentle Search: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Locate the pouch
For kangaroos, wallabies, and possums, the pouch is on the abdomen. For wombats and koalas, it opens backwards, towards the rear. If the animal is male (testicles, no pouch), no check is needed, but you should still mark it as checked.
Step 2: Carefully Examine Inside
Wearing gloves, gently open the pouch. Use a torch to look right to the bottom—newborns can be as small as a jellybean. Have a towel ready to block the exit in case an older joey tries to escape.
An elongated teat is a strong sign a joey was recently present. You can squeeze the teat to see if milk is present. Also, and look in surrounding area and long grass for a joey that may have left the pouch.
Step 3: Removing a Joey (If Found Alive)
If attached to the teat: DO NOT PULL IT OFF.
- If possible, transport the deceased mother with the joey to a vet.
- If not, carefully cut the teat far from the joey’s mouth and secure the end with a safety pin to prevent swallowing.
If detached from the teat:
- Gently guide the joey out, supporting its head. Never pull by the legs or tail.
- If the pouch is tight, you may need to make a small cut to enlarge the opening, shielding the joey with your hand.
The Scale of the Problem
Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a significant issue across Australia and particularly in biodiversity hotspots like the Macedon Ranges. The statistics highlight the urgent need for community awareness and action.
10 Million
Animals killed on Australian roads annually.
13,642
Wildlife road trauma cases in Victoria in 2024.
+24%
Rise in wildlife road strikes from 2022 to 2023.
How You Can Help
Pouch checking is a critical, direct action, but there are many ways to support our local wildlife and the dedicated volunteers who care for them. Every contribution makes a difference.
Report Sick or Injured Wildlife
Your first and most important action is to call the experts. A prompt call saves lives.
Call Wildlife Victoria →
Donate
Rescuing and raising a joey costs thousands. Financial support helps carers with food, medicine, and supplies.
Support a Local Shelter →
Make Pouches
Sewing soft, warm pouches and liners from home is a practical way to help keep orphans comfortable.
Find Sewing Patterns →
Volunteer
Organisations need help with animal transport, fundraising, and administrative tasks.
Find Opportunities →
Drive with Care
Be most alert at dawn and dusk. Slow down for wildlife and never litter, as it attracts animals to roadsides.
Use Wildlife-Friendly Fencing
Allow animals to move freely by leaving gaps under fences and avoiding barbed wire.
A Note on Rescuers: Wildlife caring is a 24/7 voluntary commitment that is emotionally and financially draining. Your support helps these local heroes continue their vital work.
