Sugar Glider saved at Strath Creek
May 16, 2011
This little Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) was discovered caught on a barbed wire fence on a property at Strath Creek. Fortunately the owner was able to carefully cut the fur and free the animal without harm. The glider stayed quite calm as it was freed, then ran a few laps around the landowner’s feet as if to say thank you, before scampering off up a tree.
This incident unfortunately occurs all too often, and is a stark reminder of the downside of using barbed wire in fences, especially adjacent to remnant patches of bush and along wildlife corridors, including roadsides and creeklines.
3 Comments
leave one →
Focus On Fauna 
This seems like a nice story but in cases like this animals should be checked by a vet before release as it is quite likely that the injury inflicted by the barbed wire will become infected and the animal will die painfully over the next few days/weeks. The animal should have been checked by an authorised wildlife shelter person or vet, not just rescued and released. Same goes for animals rescued from domestic dogs and cats. Their adrenalin may make them appear uninjured when first rescued. This story made me shudder when I first read it. The fact that the glider was described as quiet while being rescued rings big alarm bells as to it’s condition. I hope this message can be made available widely on your blog.
Thanks, Joy – we acknowledge your concerns. In our eagerness to post a ‘good news story’, we took the report that the glider was uninjured at face value and overlooked the possible scenario you mention. The primary purpose of the post was to highlight the danger to wildlife posed by barbed wire.
Yes, I agree it is a good reminder of the danger to wildlife of barbed wire. You might be interested in looking at the following website –
http://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com