EGWR Inc., Website:http://www.egwildlife.com.au/

Disclaimer:

Readers of this document: Please be aware that the opinions, ideas and thoughts

expressed within this publication are those of the author.

These may, or may not be, the opinions, ideas or thoughts of the East Gippsland

Wildlife Rehabilitators Incorporated, the committee or members.

To discover how any or each of the above feels about any material published in

the Puggle News it would be wise and prudent to canvas each individual.

end Disclaimer

Extinct: White Footed Rabbit Rat

Presidents Report:

This is my first Presidents Report.

And talk about leaving it to the last minute „literally‰. It has been a crazy 3 monthsI'm sure for everyone. And thinking of a subject to write about became all of asudden easy.

With way to many carers having way too many babies coming into care it bringsup the subject of „Burn Out‰.

How do we cope? How do we say „No‰ when we are passionate about what wedo? How do we bring on the next generation of carers with get up and go?

Feeling overwhelmed isn't a sign of a bad carer. Just a sign of a devoted one.

Remember support is only on the end of a phone, we've all been there and a chat ora cry can do wonders.

Let's keep in touch and give each other support so we can continue to do what needsto be done for our wildlife.

Marie­Louise

2

If you like the Puggle News or care aboutwildlife. It's possible to donate to the EastGippsland Wildlife RehabilitatorsIncorporated by direct deposit to:

Westpac Bank

BSB: 033-203

Acc: 318984

Thank you.

Apathy \Ap"a*thy\, n.; pl. {Apathies}. [L.apathia, Gr. ?; 'a

priv. + ?, fr. ?, ?, to suffer: cf. F. apathie.See

{Pathos}.]

Want of feeling; privation of passion, emotion, or

excitement; dispassion; -- applied either to the body

or the mind. As applied to the mind, it is a calmness,

indolence, or state of indifference, incapable of being

ruffled or roused to active interest or exertion by

pleasure, pain, or passion.

Table of Contents

Presidents Report 2

Editors Note 3

Link Maules Creek 3

AGM Photo 4

Something About Communication 4

New EGWR Committee 5

Link - Patrick Wombat 5

Tough Times for Wildlife 6

Link - Bows and Arrows 6

Link - Wild Dog Attacks 6

Milk Formula Misinformation 7

The Wildlife Carer 9

President:

Marie-Louise Ory 0351594460zenwombat@ipstarmail.com.au

Vice President:

Bev Tyler 0351548382tyler2@bigpond.com

Treasurer:

Anh Laurie 0351430885

Secretary:

Charlie Schroeder 0351594460ariestao@ipstarmail.com.au

Committee Members

Liz O’Donoghue 0351580292lizjod@hotmail.com

Barbie Richardson 0351560463barbierichardson@y7mail.com

Libby Knight 0351571882

Michele Assoun 0351521842acehlzy@yahoo.com.au

3

Marie­Louise and Charlie

Editors NoteSpring and all that jazz has been here early andthe El Niño effect is forecast, or should that bethreatened, to be upon us this spring, summer andautumn. The land of drought, not flooding rain issupposed to be coming up. But which part is goinginto drought and which part is just going to befine? As well, so many orphans and injured wildlifehanded in to carers all over Gippsland, not only inthe east.

We hear all manner of stories on the news that weare loathe to repeat because what is heard in onereport is slightly different information to another?That's much like the spoken word. Chinesewhispers that alter the content of theconversation. Or like the two people talking overthe fence and one saying that they will have to gobecause they have already told the other morethan they heard themselves.

The links supplied in this document are writtenreports, though in truth, the veracity of these maynot be any better than the radio or any spokenmedia.

It's a new committee and congratulations and alsothanks. It's great we have so many people reallyinterested in what we do that they want to be partof the management and maintenance of ourorganisation. Very heartening.

Over several forums there has been the milkdebate once again, and a lot of misinformation hasbeen presented, flying in the face of theinformation from the people who actuallydeveloped the marsupial milk formulas. So it goes,another three months have passed, it seems everyweek another three months have passed and aPuggle news has to be ready to go out. We hope youenjoy it.

Of Course We Don't Believe What They Sayhttp://www.independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/leard-forest--maules-creek-2-whitehaven-dozes-

and-rips-while-the-animals-kip,6548

Present at the AGM 2014

A photograph of those present at the AGM, after the meeting and the great food supplied by Anh,Liz and Marie-Louise.

Most will be known to members of the EGWRInc., and readers of the Puggle News.

Back Row:

Liz O'Donoghue [Committee Member] LibbyKnight [Committee Member] Michele Assoun[Committee Member] Ian Laurie [RetiringPresident] Marie-Louise Ory [President]

Front Row:

Liza O'Donoghue, Barbie Richardson[Committee Member] Anh Laurie [Treasurer] BevTyler [Vice President] Lorna King.

Also present, but having to leave before the photo was taken: Sue Lofthouse and Graeme Hill.

4

SomethingAbout

Communication.

Leona Walgrave-Knight of the DEPI mentioned,in part, in an email to the secretary, that thecommunication between wildlife carers/shelters,new members and the DEPI is particularlysparse, very limited indeed and thereforesometimes small problems can become larger andworrying at times. This was brought to mind by alack of information dispersal between the DEPI, awildlife shelter and new carer which occurredrecently. There is no blame being sheeted home toanyone. It just highlights that more information,possibly in a written form would have made asituation "run of the mill" rather than a problemand some scratching of gravel by all concerned tocatch up.

In western movies the strong silent type wasmuch admired, but usually had to shoot a problemor, get shot and incapacitated to have him tell thepeople concerned what was going on. To save thetrauma of killing and the pain of injury, it wouldhave been a solution to communicate.

It's true, in real life, unlike computers, there can

be stupid questions, but generally in life as inevery case with computers, they're the ones notasked.

There is also where people don't speak upbecause they're frightened of hurting someone'sfeelings. This is madness. If people are offended,they create the offence against themselves unlessthe person talking to them says they hope theyhave been offensive. We can assume most peopledon't want to offend those with whom theycommunicate. There are differences of opinionand very much so in wildlife care as in anythingelse.

Most of us learn something by rote, like we didthe times table in school, and then hold to itwithout questioning and revising everything astime goes by. Mathematics are an absolute, mostother things in life are not, are in fact in flux.Communicating an opinion and having adiscussion is not trying to cause offence. It'smaking an attempt to circulate knowledge. Askingquestions is healthy and allows propagation ofinformation, which like a seed may grow intosomething bigger. There is much room forimprovement in communication and exchange ofideas amongst those involved in the wildlife carearena certainly.

New Committeefor EGWR Inc..

New hands at the helm and on the sheets as

we set sail, tacking into the teeth of the

wind that is wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. It

won't get any easier for wildlife or carers.

In some cases as individuals, multitasking; also

using our shelter names and experience gained

over the years, to fight for habitat preservation and

government consideration for our wildlife out in

the wider world. We must protect as much of the

forest and plain where wildlife have more rights

and greater tolerance of humans than the other way

round. Those places where wildlife is forced to

adapt even faster now in some instances. Sadly

humans cannot adapt and learn anywhere near as

quickly, to live in harmony with these whose

territory we have stolen and whom we have

dispossessed. We petition and represent the case of

wildlife without much demonstrable success, but at

least making it known that we are watching and

aware.

The new committee will have to be on their

mettle if they wish to steer our organisation

into waters where it will be relevant, where it will

have a higher profile as other wildlife groups move

further forward and become more hard nosed.

Possibly tackling issues like stopping the

dismantling of wildlife protection that we have all

thought were sacrosanct, cast in iron and set in

concrete.

Wildlife and habitat protection in this

country is badly wounded and bleeding

out and we have to think what we are going to do

about

it, anything at all or leave it to others.

Rehabilitating animals is not going to stop the

haemorrhaging, and though many of us would

rather never see another road kill and lovingly pick

up a dead mothers baby, promising to grow it to

maturity. We don't want to find ourselves in that

time because there is no wildlife left to hit and run

over with a vehicle. That would be tragic but

possible.

We have to be mindful that humans have

learned nothing from the loss of the

passenger pigeon. It was said and believed that the

millions of passenger pigeons could never have

their numbers dented, and then one day there was

not one left. The person who shot the last thylacine

would have thought there were hundreds and if not

hundreds dozens still alive, and misinterpreted that

they were killing sheep in the areas they

frequented. Sorry, that was the last one except for

one in a zoo.

Wildlife rehabilitation is a small area of the

whole wildlife tragedy. The issues that

have to be addressed, are huge. Companion

animals, the way roads and their verges are

constructed, the sale of weapons that can wound

maim and kill wildlife, when they get into

irresponsible hands, the plants used in projects like

Landcare, climate change and every other aspect of

human habitation and habit.

For this scribe, the great fear is that my

grandchildren's children will have to go to a

zoo to see a bare nosed wombat in an environment

that was not of it's own making

and certainly not a place to live by

its own, rightful choice. Things to

consider I think.

5

Patrick - the oldest wombat in captivity?http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/australias-oldest-wombat-patrick-turns-29-years-old/story-e6frfq80-

1227038928439

A most uncommon wombat and still a sweetie.

6

Tough Times for Wildlife

There are some worrying a great deal aboutlosing wildlife species at this time. This could bedue to a cold shadow that has fallen over allwildlife by way of rules and laws that have alwayshelped to protect them being attacked, and what'sworse, with some success. The current slashing,burning and dilution of every element that hadbeen hard fought, for the benefit of Australianwildlife over decades since the dark times of thefirst white settlement isbeing noticed. It shows usthat nothing is cast in ironand set in concrete, and thateverything can be dismantledand destroyed. Vital organsremoved or compromisedleaving only a nonfunctioning, fragile husk.

We're not reaching theperson in the street. The reason is obvious ofcourse as in the recent fires or any fires thatimpact on property and peoples lives. Usually inthat order. People who value wildlife suddenlychange when their own habitat, lifestyle andproperty is in danger. It then becomes a situationwhere people in the heat believe they are moreimportant than any other people and certainly anysentient being on the planet.

So any rubbish or flawed science that thegovernment of the day trots out to the generalpublic, which sounds like they are protecting

property and lives is embraced as being correctand desirable. Even when these strategies areapplied far away from the areas where people live.The strategies that should be used aroundpopulated areas are not what should apply farfrom these, like Cape Liptrap as an example. Theareas around heavily human populated areas canbe a buffer against fire if cleaned up, beautifiedand have the community own any spaces thatcould become a fire risk due to neglect.

But the forested areas of ourstate and country should beleft as nature intended andallowed to burn as natureintended. Our wildlife hasadapted to fires in the forestsince time began, but theyhave not adapted to fuelreduction burns on a regulartimetable that destroys feed,habitat and safe shelter andactually doesn't help save largepopulation centres from fire

attack.

It seems that no one listens and there are aninsufficient number of voices and votes to stop thestupidity of government trying to look like theyare doing something. Not many recognise theseregimes are destroying our environment and it'sability and opportunity to replenish itself whenthey have destroyed it.

Everything changes for the worst where greedand carelessness is permitted to thrive.

The situation for wildlife willonly get worse as more land is

used for housing and morelogging while the currentdestructive land and forest

management regimecontinues.

Hands Up Who Thinks Bows and Arrows Aren't Weapons of Injuryand Death

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-29/native-animals-being-hunted-with-bow-and-arrows/5632024

You Decide If This Sounds Right.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-01/native-animals-attacked-by-wild-dogs/5563654

7

Milk FormulaMisinformation Again

[disclaimer]

We use mainly Biolac milk replacer formula. Wealso use Wombaroo milk formula but lessfrequently and never Wombaroo formula One.We use no other.

Biolac is our marsupialmilk formula of choice. Wehave some idea about whata wildlife baby should looklike and act. If there is avariation in part or theoverall impression we seekremedies and this canmean a change of brand ofmilk formula. We havefound a milk formula withwhich to start all wildlife orphans and it justhappens to be Biolac. We have no affiliationother than using it with the Biolacmanagement.

[end disclaimer]

Of recent there have been the samediscussions that happen so often regarding milkformulas for marsupials that it seems a goodtime to once again work through these issuesso there is something to work with for newcarers or potential carers. This reneweddiscussion, which happens again and again isthe reason we have put up a couple ofdocuments about Biolac on the East GippslandWildlife Rehabilitators Incorporated websitehere:

http://www.egwildlife.com.au/parked/question-answer-biolac.pdf

and this:

http://egwildlife.com.au/parked/messer-letter-re-biolac.pdf

These have been supplied by Christin [the wayshe writes her name] Smith and put up in an

attempt to stop the rubbish about Biolaccausing problems in some wildlife species. TheWombaroo book can be requested from GordonRich, look here:http://www.wombaroo.com.au/marsupial_milks.htm

No wildlife carer worth the name should everbe one eyed about what milk formula to usebecause it's all about wildlife and how to raisethem to release. Any preference hampers and

limits the ability of a carer toadjust to the individualanimals needs and puts thebaby through unnecessarystress. It puts hurdles in theway of objectively looking atthe well being of a baby.

Having said that, people dohave favourite milk replacerformulas. [see disclaimer] The

milk formula that works with most of theanimals a wildlife carer raises to release stage isgenerally their favourite, but any that are notwell, or are not growing as others have donemust trigger looking at a different milk formulato possibly see if they will do better. That'smore troublesome, because milk formulasshould be kept in a cool place not the fridgeunless tightly sealed as by their verymanufacture are made to be especiallyhygroscopic. This propensity to absorbmoisture makes the powdered form of theformula very difficult to store if not away from,in containers that exclude it from moisturewhich will contaminate it. Many carers don'tworry too much, and this and plenty of otherreasons is why it's in spite of, rather thanbecause of, the care by a wildlife carer thatmany marsupial babies survive, proving theyare very tough.

Transitioning seems to be a problem for mostcarers, because it's true that milk formulasshould not be mixed, except when transitioningfrom one milk to another level or brand. Somecarers do a straight swap over and thencomplain the new milk they have swapped togave their baby diarrhoea and quickly swapback, with the erroneous justification that the

The Wombaroo book clearlystates that Wombaroo

“recommend the use of FormulaOne as an emergency milk replacer

till the correct Wombaroo can beadministered” and yet there arecarers who use only Formula One

milk throughout the babiessuckling life.

8

other milk did not suit the baby? Probably notthe case. The reason is most likely that thechange in milk formula was too sudden andhas upset the baby’s stomach, and hadtransitioning been carried out as specified bythe manufacturer the problem would not haveoccurred.

This is also the case with the wildlife carerwho knows better than the company thatdeveloped the milk and spentconsiderable money and timetesting it. These carers raisebaby marsupials, but didthey reach their fullpotential? Was it as healthyas it could have been, did it survivelong after release, out of sight out of mind?These are all questions that usually don't getan airing or have no answer. We have all seenbabies that are not the best, that don't lookshiny and healthy and full of energy, whoseflatulence and poop smells wrong. But wedon't want to tread on anyone's toes or getinto an argument for various reasons so saynothing. Often knowing that the wildlife carerwill not change, no matter how muchinformation and proof of veracity is deliveredand placed at their feet.

The problem is that wildlife carers of manyyears will teach the new generation of carersthe same thing they do, give the samejustifications for death or ill thrift or anyother less terminal symptom. Making theirvices sound like a virtue. All new wildlifecarers should be encouraged to question andquestion widely and listen to the reasoningand explanation. A long time wildlife carersaying they have raised hundreds of animalsmeans nothing, until the new carer hears howmany they have lost and discovered thereason they lost them? How many they haveseen again once released and compare whatage they were put into care, and compare whattheir carer does with what the manufacturerrecommends.

In fact question everything. There is stillmuch uncharted ground.

Then there is the wildlife carer who addsanything they think that should be put in thebabies bottle. Imagining any additive must begood, without realising they are compromisingthe base milk formula, often in a detrimentalway. Like adding extra water to the milkcompromises the babies ability to take up theprotein in Wombaroo - read the book, it has

many explanations. Do we really believethat the protein and or vitaminsthat fish oil supply has notalready been added in the milk

formula. So it's added to it?

The Wombaroo book clearly statesthat Wombaroo “recommend the use ofFormula One as an emergency milk replacertill the correct Wombaroo can beadministered” and yet there are carers whouse only Formula One milk throughout andthe babies life.

It's true that the information from themanufacturer can at times seem to bemisleading for those who can't or don'tquestion anything. But it's generallyunderstandable if read correctly. Some longtime reputable milk formula manufacturersmust feel as Rudyard Kipling wrote:

“If you can bear to hear the truth you'vespoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap forfools,”

We all have many prejudices, but we have tobe careful that we don't pass them onto thenew generation of wildlife carers. Our role isto suggest. To make them question and seekthe best possible way to care for wildlife. Butdon't take anyone's word for it.

Question all you have read here, look it up.

W hy is it that all of theinstruments seekingintelligent life in the universe are

pointed away from Earth?

9

The Wildlife CarerShe stopped her car, hazard lights flashing and went over

hoping to find life in the wombat lying on the road. Itturned out to be the sixth wildlife road kill she had foundand checked in the 100 kilometre distance she hadtravelled since setting out from her wildlife shelter homethis morning. Turning the wombat over onto her back shesaw the joey in it's pouch. Removing the baby, confirmingit was indeed dead, she gently replaced the baby back intothe cradle in which all wombat mothers nurture and growtheir babies. As she pulled the body of mother and babyonto the road verge, she lamented two killed in one fellswoop. She had to wipe the brimming tears out of hereyes so she could see that the spray nozzle was pointing inthe right direction crossed the the senseless carnage witha blue pigment.

Returning to her car she sat for a moment to regain hercomposure while her mind screamed, unfairness, waste,loss, and thought about natures indifference. Whenwildlife was a scarce as the thylacine and the planetstruggling people would take notice. The death of wildlifefor most was as nothing, but the slow torturous death ofthe most callous species, that would be noticed. A tissuedried her eyes and wiped the tears off her cheek, but didnothing for the sorrow and deep despair that percolatedthrough her soul.

Looking in the slightly blurred rear-view mirror as shedrove away, she could see the body of the blue crossedwombat slowly fade out of sight. Always removing thebodies from the roadway but leaving them on the vergeout of danger of being run over again with the cross in fullview was deliberate. The cross informed other wildlifecarers the animal had been checked for signs of life, livingpouch young and identification. Saving them from havingto stop their vehicle on a possibly busy road or on a busyday. Also, hopefully, have any thinking drivers seeing thebody slow down and be more vigilant of the wildlife alongthe roadway, but probably only to avoid the damage totheir car. Anything to reduce this brutal and wastefulkilling was worth a try.

How many thinking and careful drivers travelled theroad upon which she was driving now? Most cruised theroad, in their personal killing capsule, like they owned itand could kill with impunity outside of their immediate,cosseted environment. Rolling over the top of anythingthat couldn't damage them or their vehicle. Often thesewere large, robust four wheel drives that were protectedon the front by a heavy bull bar. The drivers of theseconsidered themselves immune from injury or censure.Caring about nothing and no other road user.

Most drivers were in fact, nearly without exception, hitand run drivers. They hit and even if they wonderedabout what they hit, didn't stop and view what they haddone or take responsibility for the injury or death theymight have caused. They didn't want to see. Likepoliticians, they didn't think they were accountable.Dismissing any collision incident with variousjustifications from “these animals shouldn't be on theroad” to, “they are only vermin, aren't they” knowingquite well they are not! Knowing their insurance willcover any damage, they drove on, sometimes leavingplastic parts of their vehicle beside the broken body oftheir victim and her baby.

This wildlife carer thought of all the lives that werestolen and destroyed while these animals, and theirbabies, were going about their own business of living.Severed from life with hardly a second thought. Not alldied quickly. It was obvious by the agony written in bloodon the road by some that they had died suffering, andthen there were the ones who managed to get off the road,even though mortally wounded.

The cars whizzed infrequently along the road, past andovertaking hers as she drove and scanned the road verges.That was what was so frustrating. This was not, wouldnot, by any benchmark be judged a busy road. Thinkingthis as she drove, there was still had a way to go beforeshe could reached the town to start her weekly shop.

As it turned out, not many more kilometres had passedunder her cars wheels when she came upon a man lyingface down on the side of the road, arms and legs allatangle, a shoulder bag still round his body like a pouch.Stopping her car, and hazard lights on she went over tohim, she felt his neck and then his wrists for a pulse. Hewas still warm and the blood on his head wound and fromthe bones sticking grotesquely out of the flesh of his limbsoozing slowly into the roadside gravel. He was certainlydead, there was no doubt. Being already out of the way oftraffic, she tidied his limbs and went back to her car. Shereturned with the spray can. It hissed as she used it tospray the X on him that traffic from both sides would see.

Getting back behind the wheel she started the engine ofher car, turned off her hazard lights and drove away.Eight deaths on this road and that was just the start shethought. Those who travel on this, as just about any otherroad, are hit and run drivers in the main. They care notwhat they run over and just keep driving when they do,not willing to take responsibility or be accountable forwhat they had done.

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Next Meeting

Sunday 28 September 2014

11:00 am

Nowa Nowa Hall

Morning Tea Provided