ANIMAL lover Linda Moyle is your go-to-girl when it comes to wildlife.
The single mother-of-two has spent the past 11 years caring for Margaret River’s injured animals.
She compares joey Sasha, who she has nursed for the past seven months, to a baby in that she has to feed her every four hours, including during the night.
“If I have more than one animal to feed it can be very time consuming,” she said.
But this is the norm for Ms Moyle, who has nursed animals for as long as she can remember.
She said one of her earliest memories was spoon feeding a budgie as a kid.
Although she grew up in Perth, Ms Moyle got her animal-fix by spending half her time at her family farm in Mingenew.
Over the years she has cared for hundreds of animals, ranging from birds to kangaroos.
As well as Sasha, Ms Moyle is also looking after three orphaned rabbits, a western rosella and a king parrot, on top of her own pets.
“I’m a huge animal lover obviously,” she said.
Ms Moyle said she liked helping the animals get better and seeing them released, “basically giving them another chance”.
However, not all the animals make it, and it is especially difficult for young and small ones to recover.
Ms Moyle self-funds the service, but is thankful for help from the vets, who don’t charge for treating wildlife, and blankets and pillowslips donated by op shops.
The dedicated career has also taken on a forensic biology and toxicology course at Murdoch University.
She is completing the external units at the moment and will need to move closer to the university later, but not until she has established a local animal and wildlife group.
Ms Moyle is now trying to register the group, that will be similar to Busselton’s FAWNA group, which she is a member of.
Having mostly taught herself, Ms Moyle said those interested in being wildlife and animal carers should start by contacting the vets and spending time with others in the role.
If you find an injured animal Ms Moyle suggests calling the vet, but if people need her help to safely remove the animal from the scene, she can be contacted on 0403 533 367.
• Linda Moyle receives a $30 meal voucher for Settlers Tavern for being The Mail’s volunteer of the week. To nominate someone for volunteer of the week phone The Mail on 9757 2266.
Some of Linda Moyle’s tips for helping an injured or orphaned animal:
• If you come across a large or dangerous animal that you cannot help, phone the ranger or the local vet.
• If a female marsupial is dead/severely injured check the pouch for a joey.
• If emergency (such as the joey being cold or the mother dead), use a sharp object to cut teat, leaving joey still attached.
• Furred babies can be removed gently and kept warm until taken to carer/vet. However, never feed them cows milk – they need special formula.
• Direct traffic away.
• Keep the animal calm by keeping it in a dark enclosed area or covering it with a towel or blanket.
• For more information phone Linda Moyle on 0403 533 367.