Introduction to Possum Care

Why does our wildlife need our help?

Our wildlife populations face many dangers as their habitat decreases and they are forced to live closer to us. The biggest dangers are cats, dogs, cars, poisons and loss of native habitat.

When concerned members of the public find wildlife that is sick, injured or orphaned, they look to vets and wildlife volunteers to step in and help. In a future of climate change, wildlife carers will be more important than ever, as we have seen with the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum in W.A. 

Introduction to Possum Care Practical Course Outline

Are you interested in becoming a wildlife volunteer?

What will you get out of it?

• Learn how to raise orphaned joeys
• Help with research data collection
• Receive mentoring and further training
• Work with like minded people

Topics covered:

• Rehabilitaion and husbandry of stabilised animals
• Safe harvesting of leaf and tool keeping
• Basic handling
• How to make milk and supplements
• Feeding - joeys to adults

Requirement of a volunteer wildlife carer:

• A current drivers licence and a car
• Ability to commit your time – includes leaf collection, regular milk feed schedule, cleaning enclosures

The costs for helping and raising orphaned possums include:

• at least one indoor cage and 
• one outdoor aviary
• ongoing possum formula and food
• equipment such as feeding syringes, a basket, heat pad, thermometer
• petrol costs for going on rescues and driving to collect leaf
• a smartphone and or a computer for data collection

If this is not for you but you still want to help we also need help with:

• Rescuing animals to take them to another carer or vet
• Transport animals already contained to a carer or vet
• Volunteers to collect gum leaf for other carers
• Fundraising
• Writing for or monitoring social media
• Grant writing
• Approaching potential sponsors

Field practical will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by an online live webinar by our team of trainers and species specialists on April 13th 2024, 9:45 am - 12:00 pm or June 29th 2024, 9:45 am - 12:00 pm.

09:45am Registration. 

PURCHASE TICKET NOW - LIMITED PLACES - 30 people max per course

Course cost $70 includes your SOWFI annual membership.

Little Para River, Salisbury Heights

We hope at the end of the session you would like to commit to becoming an active member
and contributing to our vision to be the leading organisation in the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sector in South Australia.

Event Queries - call Sophie - 0433 817 684