How to protect pets and wildlife from the heat, as SA temperature is expected to hit 45C on Thursday

Extreme heat kills wildlife and pets, so animals often need help to find water and shade. Here is some advice on what to do, who to call, and who most needs our help.

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• How to help koalas in the heat

Extreme heat kills wildlife and pets, so animals often need help to find water and shade, says Environment and Water Department animal welfare manager Dr Deb Kelly.

“Australian wildlife can cope with normal heat but when it gets extreme like this it will kill them, particularly the old, the sick and the young, just like humans really,” she said.

Koalas will often seek other sources of water if the leaves they eat are lacking moisture. Picture: Dylan Coker

“It’s dangerous for the weak in the population and what you can do to help is don’t disturb them more than you have to.”

Most just need water, shade and a little breathing space, but babies and injured animals need attention, so call a vet or animal rescue organisation.

List of help numbers

Fauna Rescue SA: [phone]

- Koala rescue hotline: [phone]

- Bat rescue hotline: [phone]

RSPCA SA: 1300 4 777 22

Minton Farm: 0422 938 439

Seek advice over the phone before transporting any animal and do not touch fallen bats, as they carry disease.

At Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre, Bev Langley is tending to a dehydrated baby possum rejected by its mother.

“Kelly”, a five-week-old ringtail possum, is hand-fed by Bev Langley at Minton Farm. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“When the mums get hot they often throw the babies out, they're trying to save their own lives,” she said.

“Birds do the same in the nests as the kangaroos and the possums, especially if they are under stress.”

Kelly weighs just 28g but Mrs Langley is hoping she will keep her strength. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Mrs Langley said this “little tacker” was totally dehydrated and all wrinkled up, looking like a

little shar pei dog, when she arrived on Sunday in an icecream container.

Even now the less than five-week-old ring-tailed possum weighs 28g.

She’s being fed every few hours plus extra fluids.

“It’s still pretty dicey,” Mrs Langley said.

“She’s not a well girl but she’s got strength and she’s trying.

“So while the animals are trying I keep trying, while they’ve got strength and stamina and they want to feed and do the best they can, then so do I.”

PROVIDE WATER — thirsty birds and animals, even koalas, will benefit from access to a bowl of water in the shade. A hot koala at the base of a tree is seeking shade and water as the gum leaves turn away from the sun and dry up, you can even put a sprinkler on.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE — leave wildlife alone, they need to rest and reserve their energy,

do not disturb them as that causes them to move, burn up more energy and get hotter.

RESCUE BABIES — chicks and baby animals will overheat and dehydrate rapidly, check for ants and put them somewhere cool so you can take them to a vet or call an animal rescue group (phone numbers listed above)

PETS NEED SHELTER — our own animals need a place they can go that’s cool, for a dog in a kennel, put a hose over the top or allow to go somewhere cool, even if it’s the bathroom or laundry, somewhere to escape the heat. Shift guinea pig and rabbit hutches as shade moves during the day.

DON’T WALK DOGS — if you wouldn’t walk over that ground in bare feet, because they can get burns on their feet walking in hot weather.

SHADE AVIARIES AND PONDS — protect caged birds by putting up shadecloth or a blanket that’s wet, anything that can act as evap air conditioner is going to help, put ice blocks in water bowls and fish ponds, put up an umbrella.

Source: Department of Environment and Water animal welfare manager Dr Deb Kelly