FAWNA president Meredith Ryan said a person attempting an animal rescue was almost hit by a car on May 17 at Bellangry.

“At 6.40pm the FAWNA wildlife rescue line received a call from a Bellangry resident who had stopped for an out of pouch small hairless Swamp Wallaby joey standing in the middle of Bellangry Road with its dead mother on the road’s edge,” Meredith explained.

“The good samaritan, Leslie, was nearly skittled herself while bundling up the freezing cold 420 gram joey. 

“She had tried to signal the oncoming vehicle to slow down but had to escape behind her own car while she watched the motorist drive over the dead mother wallaby. 

“There was no sign of that vehicle slowing down. Another motorist passing by kindly turned around to see if Leslie needed help.”

FAWNA’s closest rescuer was called and met Leslie outside the Beechwood Post Office within 15 minutes. 

The young joey was put in pre-warmed bedding and has started the rehabilitation process with the volunteer wildlife rescue group. 

Meredith encourages members of the public to stop and check marsupial road accident victims for any pouch young, but asks that people take extreme care that they do not become a road accident victim themselves. 

“People should slow down on country roads at night and be aware of the native animals that can be attracted to the lush roadside grasses,” she said.

“By doing that you potentially save animals’ lives, yourself and your vehicle from unnecessary damage.  Speeding might save you five minutes on your journey – is the risk worth it?”

FAWNA is the only all-species group to operate in Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey and MidCoast LGAs and it runs a person-answered 24 hour wildlife rescue hotline on 6581 4141.