Wombats, birds and possums seeking shelter from floods in Southern Tablelands

Wombats stranded in McDonald’s carpark and garages. Carcasses lining roads. These are some scenes facing animal groups responding to the flood disaster in the Southern Tablelands.

While the sun has started emerging in the Southern Tablelands after a week of heavy rain, animal welfare groups are still being inundated with calls about injured and displaced wildlife in need of care and shelter.

Native Animal Rescue Group president and Wildcare Queanbeyan vice president Bill Waterhouse said the increased calls had sparked him to drive around and undertake rescues mainly for wombats, as well as possums and birds.

He was just collecting an orphaned baby wombat from a McDonald’s carpark in Goulburn when he spoke to the Bowral News.

A wombat injured badly in the Southern Tablelands after being displaced during the NSW floods this week. Picture: Native Animal Rescue Group

A wombat rescued in the Southern Tablelands by the Native Animal Rescue Group after being injured in a fight with another wombat. Picture: Native Animal Rescue Group

“Wombats have been getting flooded and drowned,” Mr Waterhouse said.

“And because their burrows have been destroyed, they’re wandering around more in search of a home.”

He said residents might notice more wombats appearing on the street or even seeking shelter in their houses.

“We’ve been getting calls from people about sick wombats found in their garages and sheds,” Mr Waterhouse said.

He advised people to “leave them be” unless they’re in a dangerous position on the road.

“We’ve seen a lot of carcasses on the side of the road,” Mr Waterhouse said.

“If you see a wombat, you don’t want to get too close as they may attack, but you can clap or make other loud noises to scare them off the road.”

Mr Waterhouse also said the floods wombats were injured by other wombats because of territorial fights.

Native Animal Rescue Group and Wildcare Queanbeyan are also undertaking rescues.

“Lots of birds are getting distressed and are hunkering down by dropping on to people’s windshields,” Mr Waterhouse said.

“Possums are also getting displaced from their dreys (possum nests) that are getting seriously flooded.”

Friends and Residents of Goulburn Swamplands Landcare president Heather West said rising waters in the Goulburn Wetlands were also causing animals to seek higher grounds.

“We have had so many inundations,” Ms West said.

“We’ve watched grebes birds and their nests with eggs end up six feet from the shore.”

Pacific black ducks on a log in the flooded Mulwaree river at the Goulburn Wetlands. Picture: James Cornwell

“And people nearby on May St said they had two or three turtles in their yard.”

Ms West said she and the other volunteers assisted where they could.

“We’ve purposefully piled up rocks at the Goulburn Wetlands and left holes in them so that reptiles and lizards can seek shelter and warm themselves up,” Ms West said.

While groups like these have been inundated with calls, a representative for the Goulburn Mulwaree Animal Shelter said that domesticated animals in need of a home in the region had generally not been as affected by the floods.

Mr Waterhouse said that non-profit wildlife rescue groups are always looking for a helping hand.

“Rain events put pressure on animal groups,” Mr Waterhouse said.

“We are always looking for volunteers to meet the needs of animals.”

If you would like to help waterlogged or displaced wildlife, you can follow the advice of the Planning and Environment Department.