More wildlife rescuers wanted

The Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) is looking for volunteers from the Peninsula area.

They have several volunteer rescuers and carers located on the Peninsula from Woy Woy to Killcare and Bensville, including a snake rescuer, however they are seeking more.

A wide range of animals come into the care of WIRES Central Coast from the Peninsula area.

Birds make up the largest percentage of all rescues, most commonly, rainbow lorikeets, magpies, kookaburras, currawongs, parrots and ducks.

The most commonly rescued mammals are Brushtail and Ringtail possums, with Sugar Gliders, Squirrel Gliders, Greater Gliders and Feathertail Gliders, Bandicoots and occasionally Wallabies and Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wombats and rarely Koalas making an appearance.

These are usually the result of cat or dog attacks or motor vehicle collisions and generally require long term care.

Most of the collisions with animals in the Peninsula area occur on Woy Woy Rd and near the Woy Woy tip.

WIRES Central Coast has a central telephone number (4323 2326) which directs callers to a telephone roster person who will attend to any calls from the public.

All relevant information is recorded and passed on to the nearest rescuer who then attends to the call. Every call is given a sequential number and a call form filled out by the phone roster person.

Most calls are received during the day but the service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The telephones are the first point of contact with the public for WIRES Central Coast.

Volunteers are sought to monitor calls for the organisation.

An hour or two a week would helps to keep the lines open for our native wildlife to receive help.

WIRES is a voluntary, non-profit organisation involved in the rescue, care, rehabilitation and release of native wildlife that have been injured, orphaned or are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The area covered by the Central Coast branch ranges from the Hawkesbury River in the south, the Peninsula and coastal areas in the east to Summerland Point in the north.

The Peninsula area makes up around 40 per cent of all calls received.

Potential volunteers should contact Pam Strykowski on 4360 2897.

Pam Strykowski, May 2