March 1st, 2025Hepburn Wildlife News

with Marita McGuirk

Late on a Thursday night several weeks ago a local woman was driving home from a  night out with friends.  

As her car headlights pierced the night she glimpsed a jerking movement in the ditch by  the side of the road.

She was driving on Ajax Road, Daylesford, which is bordered by state  forest on each side.  She had frequently seen kangaroos, swamp wallabies, a wombat and even an echidna crossing this road and knew that there was a very old wallaby and an ancient looking kangaroo that fed on the grass growing by the roadside.

So she stopped her car and went to  see what was in the ditch.  She found an injured kangaroo. This animal had been hit by a car, probably several hours  previously, judging by the flattened grass around it, and abandoned.

The kangaroo tried to  drag itself away as she approached; it was unable to stand as its legs were obviously broken.  

She didn’t want to frighten the injured animal, so she went back to her car and phoned the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.  

Julie Cais from the shelter quickly arrived. She found that the kangaroo was too badly injured to be saved so she euthanased her. But the roo was a mother, and Julie found a live  joey in her pouch.  

Julie carefully wrapped the joey in one of the warm woollen pouches she always carried in her car and brought the joey back to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.  

At the shelter, Gayle assessed the joey for injuries and found she had mild bruising. She gave her fluids to restore her electrolytes and allowed her to settle in.  

The joey is now doing very well, she has the specialised care that only the Hepburn  Wildlife Shelter can provide.

This includes a special milk formula, and she has 14 other orphaned joeys as company.  The special milk joeys require costs the shelter about $500 a week: please donate as you are able.  

Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the  Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita will write monthly columns about the shelter and the  animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just for more information,  head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org