Wildlife carers have their hands full with rescues

The species of the seabird is not commonly found inland. Wild weather may have pushed it in this direction.

The bird was found in a paddock on a property in the district.

"We were amazed at finding the bird here and how it could have reached Murrumbateman," said wildlife rescer, Alissa Willacott.

"The bird was exhausted, but had no visible injury.

"The bird was under my care for the night before we handed it over to Seabird Rescue.

"I tried feeding it fish, but it didn't eat anything so I ended up giving it some fluids."

Meanwhile, it's been a busy time for Wildcare members in the Yass Valley with more and more animals discovered as suffering during the drought period.

As a Murrumbateman Wildcare member, Mrs Willacott is presently caring for a joey, a cockatoo and a sugar glider.

She highlighted the continual need for more volunteers.

"There are always a lot of rescues this way," she said. "I get a lot of calls here as there are not too many people who are able to go out during the day to do some rescues.

"Last season was hectic, with people coming in from other areas to rescue bats in Murrumbateman because we did not have enough people to do it here. To rescue bats, you need to be trained and ... vaccinated.

"I have traveled to Sutton for joey rescues because they don't have anybody there. Whenever the call for rescue comes in, I go and rescue them."

Yass Wildcare member Dr Denise Morgan has - at one time - cared for two kangaroos, two small joeys, wombats, wallabies, possums, wallaroos and microbats.

Her Yass property includes a wombat compound, two kangaroo enclosures, and another one-acre enclosure and two large release sites nearby.

"We need more volunteers who can act as carers for the animals," Dr Morgan said.

"The handful of carers that we have cover the area between Yass and Canberra.

"If it suits people, they can sign up to be a rescuer, pick the animals from the vets and take them to a carer or hold them for a carer.

"We need more people to rescue flying foxes.

"They can respond to a call to go and see if the animals need rescuing or not, just to assess the situation."