Konongwootong Wildlife Shelter

10/09/2026

27/08/2026

A man has been sentenced after taking two emu chicks from the wild in Victoria’s south-west in 2024.

The Portland Magistrates' Court heard the man removed the first chick from bushland near Heywood after believing it had been abandoned.

He kept the bird at his home for around two weeks but failed to provide appropriate food or seek veterinary treatment when it became unwell.

The chick later died in his care. About a week later, the man took a second emu chick from the wild.

The man has been convicted and fined $2,500 this week after pleading guilty to wildlife and animal cruelty offences.

It is illegal to take wildlife from the wild without authorisation. If you believe a native animal needs help, contact an authorised wildlife shelter or wildlife carer: https://bit.ly/4gSL5Fv

26/08/2026

R.I.P beautiful boy
Hbc, not once, but twice.
Called in, he was sitting on the side of the road. 10mins later I arrived to find him laying on his stomach, still alive and in pain, having walked about 15m down the road and being hit again. 😢

25/08/2026

POULTRY farms and people with backyard chickens are being urged to monitor their birds as the deadly bird flu virus moves closer to our region.

23/08/2026

18/08/2026

🐦 Magpie swooping season is here

As spring approaches, some native birds become protective of their nests and young. Swooping is a natural and temporary behaviour that helps keep eggs and chicks safe.

If you're out walking, riding or enjoying local parks, remember to:

✅ Avoid known swooping hotspots
✅ Move calmly and quickly through the area
✅ Wear protective head and eye coverings if needed
✅ Never harass birds or disturb nests

Help others stay informed by reporting swooping bird incidents on Victoria's interactive map: https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/managing-wildlife/swooping-birds

All native wildlife is protected under Victorian law.

17/08/2026

🐾 FOUND A BABY POSSUM? HERE’S WHAT TO DO ❤️

If you find a possum joey alone, don’t assume it has been abandoned. The mother may be nearby, or the joey may have fallen from her back or out of the nest.

🩷 If you find a possum joey:

• Keep it warm, dark and quiet. Place it gently in a soft towel or pillowcase and put it in a secure box.

• Use a wrapped warm water bottle or heat pack beside the joey for warmth — never directly against it.

• DO NOT give it cow’s milk, formula, water or food. Incorrect feeding can cause aspiration, digestive problems and even death.

• If the joey is cold, injured, bleeding, covered in ants/flies, or crying continuously, it needs urgent help.

• Check the area for mum, but don’t leave the joey exposed to predators or traffic while waiting.

• Contact a licensed wildlife carer or wildlife rescue organisation as soon as possible. They can advise you on the safest next step.

⚠️ If the joey is found with a dead adult possum, always check the pouch carefully. There may be a baby still attached or inside.

🙏 Please don’t attempt to raise a possum joey yourself. They have very specific feeding, warmth and care requirements, and early professional intervention gives them the best chance of survival and eventual release.

15/08/2026

09/08/2026

15/07/2026

This gorgeous boy was found by a lovely family, laying in a paddock. I knew he was in a bad way after speaking to the father, but when I met them and saw him, my heart broke.
He died a short time after I got him, but he was warm and comfy, not lying alone on hard, cold ground in a paddock
R.I.P 😢