Darling Range Wildlife Shelter WA

02/11/2026

Calling all wildlife lovers, experienced carers and new volunteers!

Have you got a passion for wildlife, a wealth of knowledge, a slightly questionable sense of humour, and an inability to walk past an animal in need?

Well, we might just have a spot for you!

We know that volunteering isn't just about giving your time. It's about finding your people, feeling appreciated, sharing your knowledge, and making a difference to the animals who need us most.

At the end of the day, we're all here for the same reason the wildlife and a possum who appreciates absolutely nothing you do for it!

Whether you're an experienced wildlife warrior or someone looking to start a new adventure, we'd love to hear from you.

We value kindness, teamwork, experience, fresh ideas and, most importantly, people who genuinely care.

If you've been thinking about getting involved, perhaps this is your sign!

Come and join our wildlife family. There's always room for another pair of caring hands (especially ones willing to clean roo poo!).

Ready to become a wildlife superhero?

👉 Volunteer with Darling Range Wildlife:
https://www.darlingrangewildlife.com.au/get-involved

Our last orientation for 2026 is Nov 14, so register now!

No cape required. We can almost guarantee it would get pooped on anyway.

29/10/2026

Mistaken identity… and a VERY strong duck! 🦆🦆

When a Western Australian Seabird Rescue volunteer received a call about a cormorant that had been swimming around someone's backyard pool for several days, she headed out to investigate.

But, this wasn't a cormorant at all… it was an adult male Musk Duck (Biziura lobata)!

Musk Ducks are one of Australia's most unusual waterbirds, with some fascinating evolutionary adaptations that make them incredible divers, but rather awkward travellers!

Here's what makes them so special:

🦆 Built for diving, not walking! Their legs are positioned extremely far back on their bodies, making them powerful underwater swimmers but incredibly clumsy on land.

🪽 Flying isn't their strong suit! Their heavy bodies and relatively small wings mean they need a considerable stretch of open water to become airborne. This can make escaping confined waterways, such as backyard pools, particularly challenging.

💪 They're seriously powerful! Adult males are Australia's largest ducks, equipped with strong legs, sharp claws and powerful bills.

👀 They're naturally elusive! Musk Ducks generally prefer deep waterways, keeping their distance from people and spending much of their time underwater.

Unfortunately, these specialised adaptations can leave them vulnerable when they find themselves in unsuitable or confined environments.

Following his rescue, our rather feisty visitor was transported to Darling Range Wildlife Shelter for assessment.

With no obvious injuries identified, our team observed his swimming, diving and movement in our large, naturalistic water ponds, which allow us to assess aquatic birds in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.

Thankfully, he passed with flying colours!

Given his good condition and naturally wary temperament, we determined that prolonged time in captivity would likely cause more stress than benefit.

Sometimes, the best wildlife rehabilitation decision is knowing when not to keep an animal in care.

🌿 After receiving a clean bill of health, this magnificent male was successfully released back onto the Canning River (Djarlgarra), close to where he was originally found.

A wonderful outcome for a truly remarkable species!

25/10/2026

WANTED: WILDLIFE SUPERHEROES
(Spandex optional. Sense of humour highly recommended.)

Darling Range Wildlife Shelter is searching for a few more big-hearted humans to join our volunteer crew.

We’re looking for the kind of legends who can handle mystery smells, surprise feathers, muddy paw prints, questionable substances, and being intensely judged by a galah who clearly believes your performance is below standard.

If you’re not afraid of a little dirt, a lot of feathers, and the occasional wild animal who is absolutely convinced you are their unpaid personal assistant, you may have found your people.

We only have ONE volunteer orientation left for the year, coming up in mid-November!

So if you’ve been thinking, “One day I’d love to volunteer with wildlife…” this is your sign.

Stop scrolling.

The possums need staff.

Experience?
Absolutely not required.

We’ll train you until you can confidently say things like:
“Yes, that is definitely a quenda… and not a confused potato.”
You may even reach the advanced level of wildlife rehabilitation where you can identify an animal by the mysterious mess it left behind.

What do you need?

*Be 16 years or older
*Love animals
*Be reasonably tolerant of humans
*Not be overly precious about your clothing
*Accept that your definition of “normal conversation” may soon include poo, parasites and possum diets
*Be prepared for snacks to disappear under suspicious circumstances

(The animals blame the volunteers. The volunteers blame the animals. Management has launched an investigation. No snacks have been recovered.)

We’re based in Martin, and the wildlife are ready to meet you.

The food bowls are waiting.
The laundry pile is growing.
The galahs are judging.
The possums have demands.
And the glorious chaos is already warming up in the wings.

Ready to become a wildlife superhero?

👉 Volunteer with Darling Range Wildlife:
https://www.darlingrangewildlife.com.au/get-involved

No cape required. We can almost guarantee it would get pooped on anyway.

24/10/2026

🦘 HAPPY KANGAROO DAY! 🦘

Today we celebrate one of Australia’s most iconic animals , our incredible kangaroos. ❤️

For those of us lucky enough to rescue, care for and rehabilitate them, we get to see just how unique every kangaroo really is. From tiny joeys needing round-the-clock feeds, to growing youngsters finding their feet, and finally the incredible moment they return to the wild where they belong.

Kangaroo Day is also a reminder that these animals face challenges every day from vehicle strikes, habitat loss, injury and human development.

So today, take a moment to appreciate the roos around us. Slow down on the roads, keep an eye out around dawn and dusk, and if you find an injured kangaroo, please contact your local wildlife rescue organisation.

Every rescue matters. Every release matters. And every kangaroo deserves the chance to remain wild. 🦘🌿

Happy Kangaroo Day from all of us at DRWS!

20/10/2026

A little bird with some VERY big needs! 🐦

Meet our adorable little Buff-banded Rail, enjoying some supervised exploration time at Turtle Pond 3!

You might wonder why we've gone to so much effort to find the perfect pond for such a tiny bird.

Well, raising specialised wildlife is about so much more than simply providing food, water and shelter. It's about recreating their natural environment and encouraging the behaviours they'll need to survive in the wild.

Turtle Pond 3 was the only suitable and available pond for this little fellow. Being so small, he needs an environment with plenty of natural vegetation, dense coverage and places to hide, while still having opportunities to explore and forage.

Did you know?

🐦 Buff-banded Rails are secretive, ground-dwelling birds that are often heard more than they're seen!
🌿 They favour wetlands and areas with dense vegetation, where they can hide from predators.
🪱 They're opportunistic omnivores, feeding on insects, worms, small invertebrates, seeds and other plant material.
🐣 Rail chicks are precocial, meaning they hatch covered in down and are capable of moving around and feeding themselves shortly after hatching.
💚 Although they can fly, Buff-banded Rails spend much of their time walking and foraging through vegetation.

So, why does their environment matter so much?

For specialised species like this little rail, rehabilitation involves careful consideration of their natural behaviours, habitat requirements, stress levels, predator avoidance and eventual release.

Providing opportunities to forage, investigate natural substrates and retreat into vegetation helps develop the skills and confidence they'll need in the wild.

Behind every little patient is a tremendous amount of thought, planning and dedication from our wildlife rehabilitators. Sometimes, even finding the right pond takes a lot of work!

At Darling Range Wildlife Shelter, our goal isn't simply to raise wildlife. It's to raise wildlife that's equipped to return to where it belongs.

16/10/2026

🦘💚 THE UNSUNG HEROES OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION! 💚🦜

Behind every animal rescued, rehabilitated and released is a whole team of incredible people working behind the scenes!

A few days ago, the wonderful Kathleen loaded up her trailer and made the trip to Animal Health Solutions to collect a whopping 600+ kilograms of wildlife feed! 😱

With the help of our fabulous volunteers, Trucky and John, the team coordinated the delivery, unloaded the trailer and ensured our hungry patients would be well fed!

But here's what makes this story extra special...
Kathleen isn't even a volunteer! She's the parent of one of our staff members, who generously gives her time and energy to help keep our shelter running. 🥹❤️

Wildlife rehabilitation isn't just about the people who rescue animals or provide hands-on care. It's also about the people who collect supplies, transport food, maintain our facilities and quietly lend a hand wherever it's needed.

It's people like Kathleen, Trucky and John who make Darling Range Wildlife Shelter what it is.

A massive THANK YOU to these three legends, and to Animal Health Solutions for helping us keep our wildlife fed! 💚

Because sometimes, saving wildlife starts with a trailer full of food! 🦘🐦

15/10/2026

12/10/2026

This swallow is now part of our larger group of swallows and tree martins who are learning to fly, and capture live prey 🐦

This is the welcome swallow we have been raising. Today it starts its new journey in a enclosure set-up with water, mud, and flying insects and 9 other fledglings at where it will learn everything it needs to survive. It's been such a rewarding experience to watch this one grow, but its time to move out the nursery and graduate to kindy.
Thank you to Leah at Perth wildlife hospital for facilitating this step.

09/10/2026

💫 WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE OUR WILD FACES X DARLING RANGE WILDLIFE SHELTER MERCH 💫

You may have noticed our crew rocking some SWWA wildlife themed merchandise, or, picked up your own shirt from our reception.

We are proud to announce that our collaboration has now gone DIGITAL!

Part of the proceeds earned from this collaboration go DIRECTLY back in wildlife rehabilitation at DRWS!

Wooooweee! This is an amazing opportunity

Thank you so much to Wild Faces 💓

https://wildfaces.com.au/collections/darling-range-wildlife-shelter

08/10/2026