Long days, sleepless nights and endless dedication … Julie Paterson meets the team behind
Bunurong Wildlife Care. Above, Linda Pettit and Jinxy
Bunurong Wildlife Care. Above, Linda Pettit and Jinxy
By Julie Paterson
AT THE front door I’m greeted by bundles of foliage, flowers and buckets full of bark and sticks dropped off by kind folk. A baby ringtail is asleep in a slipper with a lovingly placed acacia sprig.
I am at the home of Linda Pettit, founder and team leader of Bunurong Wildlife Care in Inverloch, and her husband Rod. Their home is an authorised wildlife shelter, an ever evolving project to house, treat and heal injured, ill or orphaned wildlife for release.
AT THE front door I’m greeted by bundles of foliage, flowers and buckets full of bark and sticks dropped off by kind folk. A baby ringtail is asleep in a slipper with a lovingly placed acacia sprig.
I am at the home of Linda Pettit, founder and team leader of Bunurong Wildlife Care in Inverloch, and her husband Rod. Their home is an authorised wildlife shelter, an ever evolving project to house, treat and heal injured, ill or orphaned wildlife for release.
There’s a lot going on! The west side of the house is the designated quarantine entry and exit area with foot baths. The second guest kitchen is transformed into the wildlife food prep and care area, its lounge full of various pens and a huge koala cage. In an open pen on the ground a young raven squarks at me while a lorikeet cheekily peeks out through a bouquet of nectar-filled flowers.
The long, wide entrance corridor also serves as a practice ‘runway’ for joey macropods.
The downstairs laundry functions as the isolation triage.
The downstairs laundry functions as the isolation triage.
Volunteers come and go. There are extra beds for foster carers and shelter helpers to stay overnight. Cupboards and storage areas are packed full of wildlife food and needed essentials. Everything is organised, labelled and systematised. Fridges are full of different formulas, medications and a six pack of Up ’n’ Go.
Several years ago Linda did a three-turn twist from years dedicated to managerial roles with Gymnastics Australia, drew a line in the sand and undertook training to become a qualified foster carer and animal rescuer with Wildlife Victoria.
She had identified a gaping demand and need for a critical care wildlife shelter in Bass Coast. In 2023 she established the DEECA-authorised shelter. It focuses on critical care and infants’ recovery before the animals go to “finishing school”. The latter are larger shelters and it’s not uncommon for Linda to camp out for a night or two to ensure the animal transitions to its next phase of release with as little stress as possible.
She had identified a gaping demand and need for a critical care wildlife shelter in Bass Coast. In 2023 she established the DEECA-authorised shelter. It focuses on critical care and infants’ recovery before the animals go to “finishing school”. The latter are larger shelters and it’s not uncommon for Linda to camp out for a night or two to ensure the animal transitions to its next phase of release with as little stress as possible.
The daily costs are substantial. Linda directs me to one bag of wombat feed, “That’s nearly $600 just there.” I nearly fall over. Funding is from donations, fundraising and grants but, like all wildlife carers, they’ve had to put in a lot of their own money and other resources.
Linda stresses the shelter’s crew of 20-plus dedicated, educated and compassionate volunteers. “The support of the whole team is crucial. We couldn’t exist otherwise.”
Linda stresses the shelter’s crew of 20-plus dedicated, educated and compassionate volunteers. “The support of the whole team is crucial. We couldn’t exist otherwise.”
On top of the daily needs of a variety of injured, ill or orphaned animals, BWC has assisted other local wildlife facilities to develop resources for the next stages of care, which includes much larger pens and spaces for macropods, wombats and koalas. They have established relationships with other carers to work as a team across the region to provide the best possible rehabilitation journey.
These wildlife carers are heroes of compassion and empathy, but Linda can’t stress enough that, while caring for wildlife, we must focus on habitat protection and healthy flourishing ecosystems.
“Caring for injured wildlife is ultimately a band-aid solution,” she says. “It treats the symptoms of a much larger problem, the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats.
“Caring for injured wildlife is ultimately a band-aid solution,” she says. “It treats the symptoms of a much larger problem, the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats.
“Without safe, connected and healthy environments, animals will continue to be displaced, injured and pushed towards extinction no matter how many are rescued.”
Linda Petit
She is an advocate for Wildlife Victoria to hold the helm as the peak body for wildlife rescue, stating a co-ordinated rescue effort and a central organisation is paramount for the best interests of the wildlife. Agency support from DEECA and organisations such as Warriors4Wildlife and Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Veterinary Service have some capacity to support shelters, but this is limited and relies on each agency's capacity at the time for sustainable support.
It is a particular form of labour, expertise and love required to establish and run a successful shelter. This is bloody hard work. Feeding times occur six times a day, sometimes more. Baby monitors run at night; not much sleep is had.
I ask Linda how she deals with the heavy workload and emotional toll. She said ideally they would like to close for some months of the year as this provides opportunities for professional development. Taking a break is very challenging and involves planning well ahead. Sometimes it's just not possible due to the demand for wildlife care and rescue.
However, she reiterates that breaks are important as the emotional and financial demands are high. "We and the team have other ‘life’ commitments that need to be considered to remain sustainable."
And then I notice a warmth and relaxation pass through her face; after the intensive morning feeding, she says, she and her beloved husband Rod sit down at 10am with their cuppa and toast soaking up each other’s company and have a slither of quiet time that is clearly cherished.
You can donate to this astounding community of volunteers at Bunurong Wildlife Care.
However, she reiterates that breaks are important as the emotional and financial demands are high. "We and the team have other ‘life’ commitments that need to be considered to remain sustainable."
And then I notice a warmth and relaxation pass through her face; after the intensive morning feeding, she says, she and her beloved husband Rod sit down at 10am with their cuppa and toast soaking up each other’s company and have a slither of quiet time that is clearly cherished.
You can donate to this astounding community of volunteers at Bunurong Wildlife Care.
Jinxy
Jinxy is a young joey who still retains his beautiful velvety fur. He was found near the Broadbeach Estate. His mother had been hit by a car.
Linda was the Wildlife Victoria rescuer and noticed the mother a little way off, stating there’s usually a reason when a roo is away from the mob. She kept observing, checking whether the mother was maintaining locomotion, but after a while she knew something was up. She called in Wildlife Vic Darter service to sedate the mother so they could assess her and check her pouch. Here, Jinxy was found, a little viable unfurred joey.
Jinxy was bought in for rehabilitation, joining a group of Eastern Grey joeys already in care.
but his mother was not so lucky. As with many roos likely hit by cars, Jinxy’s mother had significant injuries. The hard call was made to kindly euthanise her.
Here you can see how strong this little lad is now from all the care, rehabilitation and love. He’s made himself part of the mini mob at the shelter as he works his way to the next phase of his journey to release.
Linda was the Wildlife Victoria rescuer and noticed the mother a little way off, stating there’s usually a reason when a roo is away from the mob. She kept observing, checking whether the mother was maintaining locomotion, but after a while she knew something was up. She called in Wildlife Vic Darter service to sedate the mother so they could assess her and check her pouch. Here, Jinxy was found, a little viable unfurred joey.
Jinxy was bought in for rehabilitation, joining a group of Eastern Grey joeys already in care.
but his mother was not so lucky. As with many roos likely hit by cars, Jinxy’s mother had significant injuries. The hard call was made to kindly euthanise her.
Here you can see how strong this little lad is now from all the care, rehabilitation and love. He’s made himself part of the mini mob at the shelter as he works his way to the next phase of his journey to release.
Peta
Peta was found by members of the local community in a very bad state. She had been attacked by an adult wombat and most of the fur on her back had been ripped off. It was a severe mauling. But now Peta’s fur is regrowing, all infection gone and she’s on a bright road to full recovery.
The two people who found Peta were so moved by the experience they are now taking up wildlife rescue training and volunteering in the shelter.
The two people who found Peta were so moved by the experience they are now taking up wildlife rescue training and volunteering in the shelter.
Hendrix
Hendrix was found next to his dead mother by the side of the road.
While feeding they kept noticing a decaying odour. Initially they thought it was from the deceased mother, possibly a decaying tooth as the smell was emanating from around his head. Hendrix was also unable to see at this stage and these symptoms indicated that in his mother's trauma he had also suffered a head injury. Seeking veterinary care is vital for establishing a care plan and diagnosing illness or injury. Local vets provided initial trauma care and this was followed up with Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Veterinary service in the shelter. It was determined that the head trauma included an abscess that was drained and he was treated with great success and his eyesight returned.
His dedicated foster carer, Pamela Vance, provided the one-on-one care that Hendrix needed for his rehabilitation. He has now been introduced to a wombat joey buddy as he continues to learn to be a ‘wombat’ and is gently withdrawn from the care team's dedicated support.
I asked Pamela how she deals with the severing of bonds after an animal’s recovery.
“Oh gosh, you don’t want them when they are fully grown, they are wild animals. Our gratification comes when we can release a fully rehabilitated animal. It’s a privilege to witness their release, then we know we’ve done our job.”
While feeding they kept noticing a decaying odour. Initially they thought it was from the deceased mother, possibly a decaying tooth as the smell was emanating from around his head. Hendrix was also unable to see at this stage and these symptoms indicated that in his mother's trauma he had also suffered a head injury. Seeking veterinary care is vital for establishing a care plan and diagnosing illness or injury. Local vets provided initial trauma care and this was followed up with Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Veterinary service in the shelter. It was determined that the head trauma included an abscess that was drained and he was treated with great success and his eyesight returned.
His dedicated foster carer, Pamela Vance, provided the one-on-one care that Hendrix needed for his rehabilitation. He has now been introduced to a wombat joey buddy as he continues to learn to be a ‘wombat’ and is gently withdrawn from the care team's dedicated support.
I asked Pamela how she deals with the severing of bonds after an animal’s recovery.
“Oh gosh, you don’t want them when they are fully grown, they are wild animals. Our gratification comes when we can release a fully rehabilitated animal. It’s a privilege to witness their release, then we know we’ve done our job.”
The Conservation Regulator (DEECA) has approved Bunurong Wildlife Care for display of wildlife for this photography/media.