Events

Wildlife Training

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, loss of native habitat and more frequent extreme weather events.

When concerned members of the public find wildlife that is sick, injured or orphaned, they look to vets and wildlife carers 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.

Are you interested in becoming a wildlife volunteer?
We recommend you start by attending an introductory course listed below to learn about a particular species and about volunteering with SOWFI.

We hope at the end of the information session you would like to commit to joining us and helping us reach our vision of being a respected, knowledgeable and caring group of people dedicated to conservation, education and research of SA's wildlife.

Introduction To Possum Care & SOWFI

What will you get out of it?

Learn how to help and rescue injured/sick/orphaned wildlife
Learn how to raise orphaned joeys
Help with research data collection
Receive mentoring and further training
Work with like minded people

Venue: Norton Summit Community Centre, Norton Summit
Time: Registration 9.45am, Finish 2.30pm

Wildlife Rescue 101 Online & Practical Workshop

Help is urgently needed in South Australia for wildlife rescue. Support our native wildlife by joining the SOWFI team as a wildlife rescuer.
What will you learn:

To introduce WHS risks involved in rescuing and transporting injured wildlife, assess injuries and contain the animal without inducing further stress or trauma.
To equip participants with the ability to confidently handle animals, identify injuries and disease as well as minimise stress.
To familiarise participants with the key aspects of species identification and develop the skills and techniques to accurately determine the species that has been rescued.

Following completion of the online component we would like you to come to a 2 hour practical application workshop and consider volunteering for SOWFI as a Wildlife Rescuer.

Advanced Possum Care

Prerequisite Training: Introduction to Possum Care & SOWFI

This course is designed to give experienced carers an introduction to the care of Common Brushtail Possums <250 grams and Common Ringtail Possums <115 grams. Due to the higher care requirements we prefer you have had 2-3 years of experience with the above weights before you take on anything <98 grams for a Brushtail or <60 grams for a Ringtail.

Available to Possum Carers outside of SOWFI.