‘Frightened, wet and exhausted’ native animals filmed desperately fleeing floodwaters

By admin On Oct 17, 2022

“Frightened, wet and exhausted” native animals have been filmed desperately fleeing floodwaters as the flood crisis continues in Victoria, prompting a plea from rescue groups.

Shepparton local Justin Hunter felt helpless as he witnessed an echidna desperately trying to find higher ground as waters rose around the township yesterday.

Hunter told 9news.com.au he saw something moving in a clump of water and muddy debris before he realised it was a native animal.

The echidna was seen struggling in Shepparton floodwaters. At one point it tried to find purchase on a plastic water bottle. (Supplied: Justin Hunter)

“It’s nose popped up so I know it was an echidna,” he said.

“My partner and I tried to figure out a way to rescue it, but it was too dangerous.

“It was washed away in the current under the causeway so we ran across the road to make sure it came out the other side. It came out and that’s when I recorded.

“We stayed there watching until we felt it might reach a tree or branches. It appeared to catch hold of a tree and climb onto branches before we had to leave the area.”

By zooming out Hunter demonstrated how well the struggling animal was able to camouflages. It comes as motorists are urged to take extra care on the roads. (Justin Hunter)

Hunter said his family is on the “high-side” of town, about one kilometre from the floods.

But he’s still doing his bit for his community.

“I’m heading off to the showgrounds to sandbag,” he said.

“Rapid response team, ADF, and locals are doing an amazing job”.

The incident with the echidna comes after a kangaroo caked in mud was rescued from Kiolla Lakes in a flooded area.

Bohollow Wildlife Shelter answered the call and saved the marsupial.

They are pleading with motorists to take extra care on the roads.

Kangaroo caked in mud found near at Kialla Lakes in a flood area. (Bohollow Wildlife Shelter Inc)

“Our wildlife is being pushed out by rising river and creek waters and roos in particular have nowhere to go but onto the roads and into the towns,” it wrote on Facebook.

“They are frightened, wet and exhausted.

“Please be considerate of their plight.

“We are doing everything we can to help but slowing down, being mindful and understanding that our wildlife are struggling in these conditions makes a huge difference to them.”

Wildlife Victoria said they’ve been kept busy since the wet weather began mid last week.

They echoed the message to motorists and shared a video of a wombat trying to escape floodwater along a roadside in Echuca.

A wombat was captured swimming through floodwaters in Echuca. (Wildlife Victoria)

Wildlife Victoria shared a photo of a sodden pair of ringtail possums rescued from the weather event. (Wildlife Victoria)

There are currently more than 60 flood warnings in effect across Victoria, spanning just north of Melbourne to the NSW border.

At the time a WIRES spokesperson told 9news.com.au burrowing animals such as wombats, echidnas and snakes are the most at risk as rain floods their burrows.

With no end in sight to the wet weather, the spokesperson said it’s impossible to estimate the true number of dead and displaced animals.

Australia is in the grips of a third consecutive La Niña event, which is not expected to ease until the start of next year.

Flood-hit areas are bracing for more rain as a low pressure system builds inland. — Flood-hit areas are bracing for more rain as a low pressure system builds inland before spilling over the eastern states mid-week. (Weatherzone)

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has urged beachgoers to report any sea turtle tracks and nests, in the hopes it could help save hatchlings as the the wet weather endures.

“With another La Nina summer predicted, sea turtle nests will be in the firing line from increased storm activity,” Holly West from NSW TurtleWatch said.

“Nesting turtle tracks disappear from the beach very quickly, so the earlier we are notified about tracks or the location of a potential nest, the better.

“This allows us to monitor the nest from the get-go and act to save the eggs if the nest is at risk of being inundated by high tides or impacted by other threats, such as predators, erosion or light pollution.”