12/08/2026
🦆🦅 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR WILDLIFE CLIENTS — BIRD FLU AWARENESS 🦜🦢
With avian influenza (bird flu) being detected in Australia, we want to remind our wonderful clients who rescue and bring wildlife to us about the importance of taking extra precautions when dealing with sick or injured birds.
Avian influenza can be a serious and highly contagious disease affecting birds, and in some circumstances other animals. Signs can include sudden death, lethargy, inability to stand or fly, difficulty breathing, unusual head or neck movements, incoordination, diarrhoea and other unusual behaviour.
🚨 If you find a sick or dead wild bird:
❌ DO NOT touch, pick up or move the bird unless you have been specifically instructed to do so.
❌ Do not allow children, dogs, cats or other pets near the bird. Dogs and cats can rarely become infected following contact with infected birds or other infected animals.
❌ Please do not bring a potentially affected bird directly into the clinic without calling us first. This allows us to advise you on the safest way to proceed and helps protect our staff, other patients and the wildlife already in our care.
📸 DO record what you see. If it is safe to do so, take photos or video and note:
• Where the bird was found
• The date and time
• The species or description of the bird
• How many birds are sick or dead
• Any unusual signs or behaviour you observed
📞 DO REPORT suspected cases.
The Australian Government advises reporting sick or dead birds and other wildlife to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888. You can also contact your state or territory biosecurity authority for advice.
🧤 If you have already had contact with a sick or dead bird, avoid touching other animals, change your clothes and wash/shower before handling your pets. If your pet becomes unwell after contact with wild birds, keep them away from other animals and contact your veterinarian.
❤️ We know how much our community cares about wildlife, and we absolutely want to continue helping injured and sick animals. The best thing we can do right now is make sure wildlife is handled safely and that potential cases are reported promptly.
When in doubt — don’t touch, keep pets away, record what you see, report it and give us a call before bringing wildlife into the clinic.
Thank you for helping us protect our wildlife, our patients, our staff and our community. 🐦❤️
