Wildcare helpline

The Wildcare Helpline is a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week telephone referral service. The helpline is operated by experienced volunteers on behalf of DEC and is based in the Community Involvement Unit at DEC’s operational headquarters at Kensington.

The Wildcare Helpline provides a service for members of the public who find sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife and are seeking advice on how to find care for the animal.

Those who call the Helpline will be put in touch with DEC registered volunteer rehabilitators who assist with the recovery of the injured animals and release them back into their natural habitat. Volunteer rehabilitators throughout Western Australia perform this valuable community service coordinated by DEC.

How does the Helpline operate?

It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Daytime  - 2 rosters / day

Volunteers take calls in DEC’s Community Involvement Unit office
Shifts: 9-1pm and 1-5pm

• Weeknights (Mon – Fri) 5pm – 8am

(One operator per night who takes calls from his or her home)

• Weekends

5pm Friday to 8am Monday
( The number of operators varies)

Who is involved?

• Volunteers in the office
• After-hours volunteer operators
• Veterinary centres who are registered with DEC to take sick and injured wildlife
• Registered wildlife rehabilitators and centres, who are registered with DEC as rehabilitators.
• Reptile removers must be trained and licensed to capture and relocate reptiles. They are registered as volunteers with DEC and must abide by DEC’s Code of Conduct for reptile removers.
• Animal control agents (ACA) who attend to the call as soon as possible. They are members of the Field and Game Association who work with a Code of Conduct with DEC.
• DEC wildlife officers are rostered on duty each weekend and after hours to support the Helpline Operators. 

Downloads

 Wildcare helpline - Expression of interest form (38 kB)