Pull over to see if the animal has survived

Always check the pouch of a dead animal as young can often survive (You need to feel all around in the pouch as some animals, such as wombats, have backwards facing pouches). Animals with pouches include kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, possums, gliders, koalas and echidnas.

Pouch young may have been thrown out of Mum’s pouch in an accident and could be nearby on the road or roadside, so please check around the area.

Joeys can appear dead as they have gone into a torpor due to their cold body temperature, however once SLOWLY warmed they can survive.

If the joey (young possum, kangaroo, wallaby, wombat or glider) is furless DO NOT forcibly remove it from the mother’s teat as this will cause further damage. If the mother is dead and you are comfortable doing so, cut the teat as close to mother’s pouch a possible. If not OK doing this, then just transport the dead mother with the joey to the closest vet where it will be treated for free. Hypothermia is a serious risk to these joeys and so keeping them warm with blankets, towels, etc. is vital.

NEVER give any food or water to a joey: they must be fully warmed and fed correctly so as not to ingest liquid into the lungs which will often then be fatal.

Surviving adult animals can also be taken to the nearest vet for pain relief, or euthanasia. Please ensure you tell them where you found the animal so it can be rehabilitated and returned to its home range.  If you cannot transport the animal yourself, please call a local wildlife rescue group such as AWARE; see our alternate rescue organisations page for more information.

Call a local wildlife rescue group such as AWARE for advice; see our alternate rescue organisations page for more information.

Echidnas that have been hit by a car, MUST receive a full vet assessment. The most common injury sustained by echidnas is a fractured beak and often this is not easily discernible. Many echidnas that have been hit by cars, will wander off the road and many people will assume that they are okay. If they have sustained a fractured beak, they will most likely die from suffocation (as the beak swells) or will starve to death as the receptors in their snout have become damaged and they are unable to locate food, so please ensure you call a local wildlife rescue group such as AWARE for any echidna hit by a car; see our alternate rescue organisations page for more information.

If leaving a dead animal on the side of the road, please mark it with spray paint or a ribbon.  This indicates that it has already been checked and there are no surviving young.  This saves an animal being checked repeatedly by other motorists.