Bushfire and Wildlife Recovery

This is a big shout out to all the nature mappers out there! Thank you for being wonderful citizen scientists!

The response of the community to the bushfire crisis has been outstanding and we are in awe about the care being shown to the wildlife that has been impacted. 

Many of us are feeling devastated about the loss of biodiversity that has resulted from these fires, but we are also hopeful that the wildlife and natural areas will recover over time. 

The Southern Highlands has never been more important as a refuge for all living things as areas to the south and north have been so severely impacted in terms of area and intensity of fire. Fortunately a lot of the best Koala habitat in the area has not been impacted (and hopefully this remains so).

Please encourage your friends and family to visit the Southern Highlands Nature Map web site to register and download the free NatureMapr app on their phones.

NatureMapr is the best platform for citizen scientists like you to record your sightings of wildlife and the recovery from the fires, as this tool is being used across large areas of the south east region of NSW and it will support recovery efforts as data can be given to land management agencies including NPWS, DPIE and others if required.

It is generally not recommended to feed native wildlife as they have very special and diverse dietary needs, however in times of natural disaster when natural food and water resources are scarce, you may want to help by providing some resources. For more information visit DPIE's helping wildlife in emergencies

Please consider your safety and do not enter firegrounds unless they are deemed safe by the NSW RFS or other authority.

Also, only contact registered wildlife care organisations if you happen to come across injured or sick wildlife. WIRES and Wildlife Rescue South Coast are available in the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly shires.

Wingecarribee Shire Council has published local information about Wildlife Care and Bushfire Recovery  Wollondilly Shire Council has published information on injured wildlife and feeding wildlife and has an online fact sheet Helping native wildife after bushfires.