Andrena’s spiky problem

By Danielle Galvin
A BAYLES wildlife warrior has been inundated with calls to help injured and displaced animals in Lakeside Pakenham in recent weeks.
Andrena Francey, who runs the Bayles Wildlife Shelter, said that she had been busy since the start of spring.
“I’ve seen an extreme number of echidnas hit by cars around Lakeside,” she said.
Ms Francey has been treating injured echidnas, possums and baby magpies.
She said that housing developments in Lakeside Pakenham were destroying the natural habitat for native animals in the shire.
“Echidnas are being pushed into town. There’s so much wildlife in the area that has nowhere to go,” she said.
Ms Francey said that housing developments, the new train station and the shopping district had pushed native animals closer to town.
“People are finding wildlife and they don’t know where to take them,” she said.
In the last three weeks, she has tended to an unusually high number of injured baby ringtail possums.
“When developers clear trees, the baby ringtail possums get thrown to the ground. I’ve had a few tradies and workmen bringing them in,” she said.
Ms Francey said that baby ringtail possums clung to their mother’s back.
“Tradies have noticed the possums after they’ve knocked down a tree and seen them on the ground. When the mother dies, her young are thrown onto the ground, too weak to fend for themselves,” she said.
Spring is often the busiest time for wildlife shelters.
In the last two weeks, Ms Francey has taken three possums to a veterinary clinic in Pakenham and watched as all three were euthanased.
“Two were hurt in a road accident and one was mauled by a dog. People don’t know but they can call the RACV roadside assistance number when they find an injured animal on 13 11 11.”