RSPCA Wildlife Hospital

No, only qualified wildlife carers can care for wildlife at their property. If you find sick or injured native animals, you should take them to your nearest vet as soon as possible or call your local wildlife carer for assistance. You can also call our Animal Emergency Hotline 1300 ANIMAL. Our team will be able to offer guidance and support as needed.

To become a wildlife carer, you must hold or be endorsed under a rehabilitation permit and meet the standards described in the Code of Practice – Care of Sick, Injured, or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland.

Learn more here.

If our Wacol or Eumundi location is closest to you or where you find the animal, yes you can bring them directly into our Wildlife Hospital or Rehabilitation Centre. Otherwise please call your local wildlife carer, take them to your nearest vet or call our 1300 ANIMAL hotline.

Our Wildlife Hospital at Brisbane is 24/7 with vet nurses on around the clock our Eumundi Rehabilitation Centre is open 7am – 5pm.

Don’t touch the bat. Call 1300 ANIMAL or contact your local bat rescue group. They will be able to notify someone who is vaccinated and trained to handle flying foxes. If you were bitten or scratched by a bat, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

If you find a bat that you think is deceased, do not make direct contact with the bat. It is best to dispose of the body by picking it up wearing pierce-proof gloves or using a plastic bag and towel or a spade and disposing of the body in a bin. The RSPCA does not collect deceased bats. Please also remember before removing a deceased flying fox that there may still be a baby bat tucked under its wing as young stay with their mum for a period of time.

Never attempt to handle a bat yourself as they can carry Australian Bat Lyssavirus, which if transmitted to humans, is deadly. If you are scratched or bitten by a bat seek urgent medical attention straight away, even if you have had the rabies vaccine.

Our RSPCA Wildlife Hospital at Brisbane and Rehabilitation Centre at Eumundi treat many types of wildlife: native birds, possums, echidnas, koalas, kangaroos, snakes, lizards, and more!

Once an animal is admitted into our Wildlife Hospital, they will be examined by our team of experienced wildlife veterinarians and veterinary nurses. Our veterinary team will conduct a physical examination and diagnostic tests as indicated. This might include evaluation of blood and other biological samples; taking and interpreting x-rays; and performing and interpreting an ultrasound examination.

Orphaned, injured and sick wildlife that have a good prognosis for successful treatment and return to the wild, will be stabilised, remain in care, or will be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator or other registered facility for rehabilitation and eventual return to the wild.

Read our RSPCA Wildlife Animal Care Flow Chart

The treatment of wildlife in Queensland is regulated by numerous acts, regulations and guidelines including the following:

• Nature Conservation Act 1992
• Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006
• Code of Practice for Care of Sick, or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland 2013
• Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
• Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936; Veterinary Surgeons Regulation 2016

View our locations

At the RSPCA we have Rescue Units across South East Queensland. Our hours of operation are 7am to 7pm and can collect animals from veterinary clinics during that time when our Rescue Team is in that area.

We’re always looking for people to help to ensure wildlife get treatment as soon as possible. If you’d like to help with transporting animals, you can sign up to become a volunteer RSPCA Wildlife Responder or RSPCA Rescue Driver.

Sign up to volunteer

There are many ways you can help our native animals. Check out our blog for wildlife advice, sign up to become a wildlife volunteer, or you can help by donating directly to animals in our care. If you’d like make a donation to ensure our wildlife can continue to get the treatment, care and love they need to return to the wild:

Please donate here.

We’re on the road 7 days a week, 7am to 9pm, 365 days a year. If you’d like to help by becoming a volunteer rescue driver, please apply to volunteer!

Volunteer today.

Brisbane, Logan and Toowoomba areas.

Sick and injured stray domestic animals can be brought into our domestic veterinary hospital at Brisbane, the hospital operates 24/7.

Transport and Main Roads or your local Council dispose of deceased wildlife. If you notice an animal that requires pouch checking, you can contact the RSPCA or your local wildlife carer. Or you can pouch check yourself and contact us on 1300 ANIMAL or your local wildlife carer for help.

Read more about how to pouch check deceased wildlife.

To report marine animal strandings (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales) call 1300 130 372.