Found an injured kangaroo in Victoria? Here’s exactly what to do

 

Coming across an injured, sick or orphaned kangaroo can be distressing, especially if you’re not sure what to do next. Whether you’ve found a kangaroo hit by a car, tangled in fencing, or a joey left without its mother, knowing the right steps can genuinely make the difference between life and death. Here’s what an injured kangaroo needs from you, in Victoria, right now.

 

A few simple precautions first

Kangaroos are gentle animals by nature, but like any wild animal in pain or shock, an injured kangaroo may feel frightened and act on instinct so a little care goes a long way, for you and for them. Give the animal some space, move slowly and calmly, and avoid cornering or chasing it, even if your instinct is to comfort it quickly. A calm, unhurried approach genuinely helps the kangaroo feel safer too.

If you’re near a road, pull well off to the side and turn on your hazard lights so you’re visible to other drivers, and keep children and pets safely inside the car while you assess the situation. Kangaroos tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, so it’s worth being a little more alert on rural roads during these hours. None of this is about being afraid, it’s simply about giving the kangaroo, and you, the best possible outcome.

 

How to check for a joey in the pouch

This is one of the most important and most overlooked steps. If you find a female kangaroo that has been killed or is badly injured, always check her pouch. Joeys are remarkably resilient and can survive for several days inside their mother’s pouch even after she has died, but only if they’re found in time.

If the mother is still alive: do not attempt to check the pouch yourself. Call Wildlife Victoria immediately and let a trained rescuer assess the situation safely.

If the mother has passed away: gently look inside the pouch for a joey. If you find one and it is not attached to a teat, you can carefully lift it out and wrap it snugly in a jumper, towel or cloth bag, keeping it warm and close to your body. If the joey is still attached to a teat, never pull it off this can seriously injure its jaw. Instead, if you’re able to, carefully cut the teat as close to the mother’s body as possible using scissors, leaving the teat attached to the joey until a wildlife carer can safely remove it. If you’re not confident doing this, it’s completely fine to simply keep watch over the joey and mother together and call for help, a trained rescuer would always rather guide you through it or come to you than have you take an unnecessary risk.

Whatever the outcome, never offer the joey any food or water, and never give cow’s milk, it can be fatal to a kangaroo joey. Warmth and a calm environment are what it needs until help arrives.

 

Who to call

For any sick, injured or orphaned native animal anywhere in Victoria, the number to call is Wildlife Victoria’s 24/7 Emergency Response Line: 03 8400 7300. This service is free, operates around the clock, and connects you with a trained volunteer rescuer who can guide you through next steps or come to the animal directly. You can also lodge a report through their online form if you’re unable to call, and their team will follow up.

Before reaching out, try to note down:

• The exact location (a road name, landmark, or GPS coordinates from your phone are ideal)
• The animal’s condition (moving, unable to stand, visible injuries, whether a joey is present)
• Whether the animal is in immediate danger, such as on a busy road

Having this ready means help can be dispatched faster.

 

What not to do

A few well-meaning instincts can actually make things worse:

• Don’t try to feed or give water to an injured kangaroo. Their digestive system is sensitive, and stress alone can be dangerous food or water can make things worse, not better.
• Don’t attempt to transport a large kangaroo yourself. Adult kangaroos are strong, and moving an injured animal incorrectly can cause further harm to both of you.
• Don’t take the animal home, even with good intentions. Kangaroos need specialised care, and in most cases handling native wildlife without a licence isn’t permitted in Victoria.
• Don’t pull a joey off its mother’s teat. As above, always cut the teat rather than force it free.
• Don’t leave the animal unattended for long periods if you can safely stay nearby a kangaroo left alone on a road, for instance, is at risk from further traffic.

 

Keeping the kangaroo calm while you wait

Stress can be just as dangerous to an injured kangaroo as the injury itself. If it’s safe to do so, gently place a towel, jumper or blanket over the animal’s eyes and body reducing what it can see tends to calm it significantly. Keep noise and movement to a minimum, keep other people, children and pets well back, and avoid touching or handling the animal more than necessary. The calmer the environment, the better its chances once a rescuer arrives.

Every rescue starts with someone like you

At Red Box Wildlife Shelter, every kangaroo in our care, from tiny orphaned joeys to adults recovering from acute injuries, came to us because someone stopped, checked, and made that call. If you’d like to help beyond a single rescue, you can sponsor a kangaroo or joey from just $2 a week, or explore our wish list of everyday items our clinic relies on. And if you’d like to teach the next generation how to care for kangaroos, our free educational programs at Kangaroo Rangers are a great place to start.

If you ever find yourself facing this situation, remember: stay safe, check the pouch, and call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300. That one call can save a life.