Wildlife

Bird flu (avian influenza) is a viral disease that primarily affects birds. Some strains can also infect other animals, including mammals. Bird flu can affect wild birds, poultry and captive birds. 

H5 bird flu (high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza) has now been detected in wild birds in NSW. 

For the latest information please visit the Bird flu (H5 avian influenza) | NSW Government webpage.

There's also links for communities, animal owners and professionals.

For background information see About H5 bird flu and the risk to NSW

Signs of bird flu in animals can include sudden death, unusual behaviour, breathing difficulties, reduced eating or drinking, and changes in egg production. Different species may show different signs. Always contact your vet if you have concerns. 

On this page you can find links for communities, animal owners and professionals providing more information on signs and detection.

Do not touch sick or dead birds or wildlife. Avoid contact, keep people and pets away, record the location and report what you have found.

Related information

• Report sick or dead birds and wildlife
• Bird flu and wildlife (Environment and Heritage)
• Be careful around wildlife (NSW Health)

If you need to immediately dispose of a sick or dead bird in order to keep others safe, see:

General Public: Disposal of bird carcasses from public and private land guidelines

To make a report, see the contacts below on this page. When you make a report , an officer from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will review and assess your report. They will consider:

• the species
• the number of birds affected
• the location
• the disease risk

Not all reports will lead to an investigation, collection or testing. Where further action is needed, the DPIRD may contact you for more information or arrange collection and testing. DPIRD will confirm positive detections only.

Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds. (See previous question What do I do if I find a sick or dead bird).

Human infections are rare and the current risk to people remains low. For the latest health advice, symptoms and information about exposure risks, visit NSW Health.

• Health information for people

For the latest food safety and health advice, visit NSW Health. NSW Health provides information about risks to people and current public health advice.

• Health information for people

Bird flu mainly affects birds. Overseas, some mammals including cats and dogs, have been infected, but the risk to pets in Australia remains low.

Keep pets away from sick or dead birds and wildlife, and contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about your pet's health. 

What if my pet has touched or eaten a dead bird?

Keep your pet away from sick or dead birds and wildlife where possible. If your pet has touched, handled or eaten a dead bird and you are concerned about its health, contact your veterinarian for advice. Monitor your pet for signs of illness and seek veterinary attention if they become unwell.

Related information

• Advice for pet owners
• Factsheet - Preparing pets and wildlife for H5 bird flu (PDF 1.13MB)
• Bird flu information for bird owners and keepers

If you find an injured native animal (other than a koala)

• Do not approach the animal.
• Contact FAWNA on phone 6581 4141 (24-hour number).
• FAWNA will give instructions and usually come to remove the animal. There is no cost for this service but donations to this valuable organisation are always appreciated.
• You can also contact one of the vets listed below.

If you find an injured, sick or dead koala:

• Don’t touch or approach the koala.
• Contact the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on phone 6584 1522 (24-hour number).

If you find a dead animal on a Council road:

• Contact JR Richards for removal
• Phone 1300 787 223

For stray domestic animals (such as dogs and cats) contact us during business hours.

Additional contacts:

The following approved vets can also assist with stray or injured animals: 

Animal Doctors
5/17−5 Lake Road PORT MACQUARIE
Phone 6581 5111

Bonny Hills Veterinary Clinic
46 Beach St BONNY HILLS
Phone 6584 8808

Camden Haven Veterinary Clinic
476 Ocean Drive LAURIETON
Phone 6559 9828

East Port Veterinary Hospital
57 Gordon Street PORT MACQUARIE
Phone 6583 5677

Oxley Highway Veterinary Hospital
206 Oxley Highway PORT MACQUARIE
Phone 6583 5366

Port Macquarie Veterinary Hospital
159 Gordon Street PORT MACQUARIE
Phone 6583 1611

Timbertown Veterinary Hospital
241 High Street WAUCHOPE
Phone 6585 3215

Wauchope Veterinary Clinic
59 High Street WAUCHOPE
Phone 6585 1626 

Our area is home to 23 different snake species, many of which are extremely venomous. Snakes are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act which means it’s illegal to kill them or remove them from the wild.

You can discourage snakes from coming into your property by:

• Keeping your garden maintained and lawn mowed
• Keeping your property free of rubbish or debris
• Controlling rats and mice around your property

If you see a snake on your property or in a public space where it may be a danger to the community:

• Contact FAWNA
  Phone 6581 4141 (24 hour number)
  
  
• Contact a local approved snake handler
  You can find a list of them on the Office of Environment and Heritage website or by phoning 131 555.

If you are bitten by a snake:

• Call 000 immediately
• Keep as still as possible to slow the spread of venom
• Wrap the limb tightly in a compression bandage or similar if possible
• Don’t touch or wash the bite

Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are poisoning and even killing native wildlife like owls, eagles, magpies, and quolls when they eat rodents that have ingested certain types of rat and mice baits. It’s not just wildlife, beloved family pet dogs and cats are also at risk.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council made a commitment to stop using SGARs in January 2022. We are encouraging our community to do the same as these poisons are used by residents and commercial providers.

Packaging for SGARs can be unclear, but as a safe bet avoid all products with the ingredients: brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum or flocoumafen.

You can find out more about BirdLife Australia's campaign to ban SGARs and also the alternatives available to manage pets and rodents on your property.

Indian Myna birds (also known as the Common Myna) breed from August to March and during the breeding season they can evict native birds from their nesting spots.

You can take small steps around your home to prevent India Myna bird nesting and breeding by: 

• Planting native plants to encourage reliable areas for nesting and a food source for our native birds. Native shrubs offer opportunities for small native birds to nests
• Reducing roosting opportunities around the home - if you notice an Indian Myna bird nesting in the roof or eaves of your home - block those holes
• Ensuring the Indian Myna bird can not access pet food or other potential food sources

Further information on the species is available from Department of Primary Industries at Myna birds (nsw.gov.au).

The Indian Myna is listed as a priority species by Local Land Services and can be reported to their biosecurity team at Alert species in NSW - Website - Local Land Services.

Hastings Landcare provide additional resources which may assist residents to control Indian Mynas: Indian Myna Control – Hastings Landcare (home.blog)