This storm struck tree was also home and food source for many species of native wildlife
Photo © Sue Finnigan

The 2008-09 storm season in Brisbane and Queensland has hit hard and early. But it's not just humans who are badly affected by storm damage: our native wildlife also lose their homes or have problems getting food and water.

Here's how to help your local wildlife neighbours get through this difficult time.

• Take care. In the immediate aftermath of storms, be wary of disoriented, homeless wildlife, especially snakes. Be tolerant of wildlife behaving in an unusual manner.
• Immediate help. If you find an animal or bird in distress here's how you can help it immediately:
  • Keep children and pets away.
  • Don’t handle the animal more than the minimum – it might need to be left alone to recover.
  • If you do need to move native birds or animals, keep them warm in a quiet, dark place, such as cardboard box, so that you don't add to their stress.
• Contacting wildlife carers. If you come across injured or orphaned wildlife, contact wildlife rescue organisations. But be aware that these volunteer services might be overwhelmed by emergency calls.
• Water is important. You might think there’s water everywhere after a big storm, but safe drinking water is vital to wildlife. Put out a safe source of clean water for native birds and animals in your backyard before the weather turns hot and dry again.
• Feeding wildlife. If you feel you need to put out emergency food for local birds and animals, provide food that’s as close to a natural diet as possible and put it out in a safe environment. More information on feeding wildlife.

Helping wildlife get back to normal

• Help the environment return to a wildlife-friendly habitat after the storm. Storms bring down bigger, older trees and that means a lot of wildlife species that depend on tree hollows – possums, gliders, parrot and other bird species – will have no natural home sites. Invest in nestboxes to replace these hollows in your garden and allow some fallen logs to remain as extra habitat.
• When you’re replanting after storm damage, replant native wildlife habitat: some dense understorey such as grevilleas for shelter, larger trees for future hollows, food trees such as gums, flowering and fruiting native shrubs; and a frog pond.
• Do you have a creek or watercourse? The storm might have washed down a number of larger branches or logs. Some 'snags' in the water can be good habitat for aquatic life, and even platypus, so don’t be too enthusiastic to have a totally clear channel. Replant suitable riverbank vegetation: it holds the banks together and is great habitat.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.