Wildlife group’s warning after magpies found poisoned in Cooloola Coast man’s backyard

Rescue workers rushed to a Cooloola Cove home in response to reports or four dead magpies, “only to find the magpies were still alive but obviously poisoned by an unknown source and unable to stand at all”.

A Gympie region wildlife rescue group have warned residents to take care with using poisons after four magpies narrowly avoided death on the Cooloola Coast. Picture: Anarra Wildlife Rescue Gympie

A Gympie region wildlife rescue group has warned residents to take care with using poisons after four magpies narrowly avoided death on the Cooloola Coast at the weekend.

Anarra Wildlife Rescue Gympie revealed they had received a call out to a man’s Cooloola Cove home on Saturday (July 31) after he believed he had found four dead magpies in his backyard.

A Gympie region wildlife rescue group have warned residents to take care with using poisons after four magpies narrowly avoided death on the Cooloola Coast. Picture: Anarra Wildlife Rescue Gympie

After two Anarra members arrived at the man’s house, they found the magpies were still clinging to life but unable to move or even stand.

“On Saturday, our Cooloola Coast members Ros and Pete had a call from the hotline that a gentleman had four dead magpies in his backyard at Cooloola Cove,” and Anarra Facebook post read.

“They immediately attended only to find the magpies were still alive but obviously poisoned by an unknown source and unable to stand at all.

“After several phone calls, they decided to take them direct to Paula who administered a charcoal mixture and placed them all in the humidicrib.

On Saturday our Cooloola Coast members Ros and Pete had a call from the hotline that a gentleman had four dead magpies...

Posted by Anarra Wildlife Rescue Gympie on Sunday, August 1, 2021

“The happy ending resulted in Ros and Pete being able to collect them the next day and release them to a reserve close to the gentleman's house. It was such a beautiful sight to see all four fly off together.”

The Anarra post stated the issue would likely continue to be seen across the region as long as residents used poisons “without consideration” for the potential effects on wildlife.

“It will still be a worry while people continue to use poisons for lawn grubs, ants and mice without consideration to our precious wildlife,” the post said.

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“Thanks to Paula’s knowledge and dedication these four live to fly another day.

“Ros and Pete thought there was no hope but their eyes were so bright they thought maybe, just maybe.”

Originally published as Wildlife group’s warning after magpies found poisoned in Cooloola Coast man’s backyard