Vet Industry Course - Wildlife (Possums) - with Dr Anne Fowler, sponsored by Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc (SOWFI)

Why does our wildlife need your help?

Our wildlife populations are decreasing at rapid rates thanks to climate change, urban sprawl and the consequent loss of habitat, cars, dogs, cats, foxes, poisoning and many other human related issues. The educated assistance of Vet staff is key to their welfare.

Husbandry and Rehabilitation of injured and orphaned possums

Presented by Dr Anne Fowler

Please bring:

1. Pen and paper to take your own notes. You will be provided with printed book of notes on the day.

2. The amount and variety of native foods (branches, leaves, flowers, fruits) that you will feed to a possum (300g ringtail or 500g Brushtail possum) that night. This is to assist attendees in understanding species of food that can be fed locally. It does not matter if you do not know the species of tree fed!

Objective: The attendee should have an improved understanding about the social ecology and dietary requirements of the two common possum species, Brushtail and Ringtail possums.

Various conditions that possums suffer – from husbandry-related, nutritional, infectious and traumatic presentations are addressed. Rehabilitation and release techniques are discussed with relation to published work done on released animals.

Time Proposed topic

8.30 – 9.00 Registration. Prompt start at 9am

9.00 - 10.30 Husbandry: housing and diet of possums

10.30 – 11.00 MORNING TEA

11.00 – 12.00 Rehabilitation and release

12.00 – 1.00 Infectious and nutritional conditions

1.00 – 2.00 LUNCH

2.00 – 3.00 Traumatic conditions

3.00 – 3.30 AFTERNOON TEA

3.30 – 4.30 Hand-rearing conditions

4.30 – 5.00 Discussion

We trust you will gain useful new knowledge to treat wildlife and will have the ability to discuss topics amongst your peers. We also look forward to listing your practice as "Wildlife Friendly" with our 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Line when giving advice to the general public and our volunteers.

Event Queries - call Kaila - 0431 401 914